Musa Na Allah, Sokoto
Residents of Bodinga Local Government Area of Sokoto State on Friday staged a massive protest following fresh bandit attacks that reportedly left several people dead, displaced hundreds of residents and forced entire communities to flee their homes.
The protesters blocked the busy Sokoto–Jega–Yauri highway, a critical route connecting Sokoto with Kebbi, Niger and other parts of the country, as they demanded immediate government intervention to halt the worsening security crisis.
The demonstration disrupted economic and social activities for several hours as angry residents erected barricades and set tyres and logs ablaze on the highway, bringing traffic to a complete standstill.
Witnesses said some vehicles caught in the chaos, including a bus belonging to the Kebbi State Transport Authority, were vandalised before security operatives intervened to disperse the protesters and restore movement along the road.
The protest followed coordinated attacks by suspected bandits on several villages in Bodinga on Thursday, with residents reporting killings, abductions and widespread destruction of property.
Community members said the attacks triggered a fresh wave of displacement, forcing families to abandon their homes and seek refuge in safer locations within and outside the local government area.
A resident who requested anonymity said the protest was born out of frustration over repeated attacks on rural communities and what many perceived as inadequate protection from criminal elements.
“We have reached a breaking point. People are being killed, villages are being emptied and residents are living in constant fear. We want urgent action to stop these attacks,” he said.
Visits to temporary shelters in Bodinga revealed scores of displaced persons taking refuge in schools, public buildings and other safe locations after fleeing their communities.
One displaced resident from Qyaula village recounted how armed attackers stormed the community and opened fire indiscriminately, forcing residents to escape for their lives.
“The attackers arrived shooting everywhere. We fled without taking anything with us. Some people were killed while others were taken away. It was a terrible experience,” he said.
Residents identified the affected communities as Qyaula, Keloji, Chohi Takule, Kulodo and Kwamtsi villages, where the attackers allegedly carried out coordinated assaults.
According to local sources, the armed men invaded the villages around 2 p.m. on Thursday and operated for several hours, extending their attacks into the early hours of Friday before retreating.
The latest violence underscores the persistent security challenges confronting communities across Sokoto State and other parts of the North-West, where recurring incidents of banditry, kidnapping and violent attacks continue to threaten lives and livelihoods.
Following the protest, a high powered delegation of government officials and security chiefs visited the affected communities to assess the situation and sympathise with victims.
The delegation included the Speaker of the Sokoto State House of Assembly, Tukur Bala Bodinga; the member representing Bodinga, Dange-Shuni and Tureta Federal Constituency, Nasiru Shehu Bobo; and the Secretary to the State Government, Muhammad Bello Sifawa, among others.
Speaking during the visit, Rep. Bobo described the attacks as unfortunate and assured residents that additional security personnel had been deployed to restore peace and prevent further attacks.
The Sokoto State Police Command, through its spokesperson, Ahmad Rufai, also confirmed the incident and said security operatives had intensified operations in the area, while reinforcements had been sent to strengthen security and restore normalcy in the affected communities.
