Musa Na-Allah, Sokoto
In a dramatic show of resilience, residents of Shagari and Bimasa communities in Tureta and Shagari Local Government Areas of Sokoto State repelled a bandit invasion, killing 15 of the attackers and rescuing several kidnapped victims.
The fierce clash, which local sources described as a “battlefield,” broke out when heavily armed bandits stormed the two communities late Thursday night, seeking to unleash another round of terror.
Instead, they were met with stiff resistance from determined villagers who mobilized en masse to defend their homes.
Eyewitnesses said the confrontation lasted several hours and resembled a war zone, as locals—armed with dane guns, cutlasses, and local charms- fought back despite the criminals’ superior firepower. Their courage and unity eventually overwhelmed the attackers, forcing them into disarray.
By the end of the counteroffensive, no fewer than 15 bandits had been neutralized, while others fled into the forest, abandoning kidnapped victims and stolen livestock. Dozens of cattle were recovered, bringing relief to herders and farmers who had lost their livelihoods to previous raids.
“This is proof that Shagari and Bimasa people have drawn the line; bandits will never again dictate the pace of life in our communities,” said one of the residents who participated in the operation.
Security sources in Sokoto commended the effort, describing it as a rare but decisive breakthrough in the fight against rural banditry. They noted that the bold stand by the villagers sends a clear signal to criminal gangs that their reign of terror will no longer go unchallenged.
For years, parts of Tureta and Shagari have been under siege, with persistent attacks displacing thousands and crippling farming and trading activities.
Community leaders said Thursday night’s victory has restored hope, but they urged the Sokoto State Government and the Federal Government to consolidate the gains by deploying more security personnel to forestall reprisals.
They also appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to match his Renewed Hope Agenda with urgent action to tackle insecurity in the Northwest, where rural communities remain prime targets for bandits.
Although the Sokoto State Police Command has yet to release an official statement on the incident, observers say the defiance and bravery of the villagers will go down in history as a turning point in their struggle for survival.
