At least 21 people are feared dead, 37 others were abducted and thousands fled after heavily armed bandits attacked Tsamaye community in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
Residents told Daily Trust the attack began around 9:00 p.m. on Monday and continued until after 3:00 a.m. on Tuesday. Two houses were burnt, livestock stolen and the community was left deserted.
The attack also led to another tragedy as villagers tried to escape across a river after learning the bandits were approaching. Locals said overloaded boats capsized, throwing about 25 people, mostly women and children, into the water. Seven were rescued, while 18 are feared drowned.
A resident said the attackers confirmed they had abducted 37 people after relatives called the victims’ phones. “When we called our relatives, the bandits answered the phones and told us they were the ones who abducted them. They said they had taken 37 people,” he said.
He said many victims were taken from nearby farms, where they had been sleeping to avoid repeated attacks. “Most of those abducted were women and children. I personally saw three infants placed on the ground by the bandits while they led their mothers away.”
Residents accused security personnel of failing to respond despite being alerted. Another villager said everyone fled as the community emptied.
A vigilante member said security operatives lacked the equipment to confront the attackers and called for Armoured Personnel Carriers. Residents said two houses were destroyed and identified three confirmed victims as Kabiru Mallam Tanimu, Ayuba Mallam Hashim and Yakubu Mu’azu.
Sabon Birni Chairman Ayuba Hashimu confirmed the attack but said casualty figures were still being verified, while police said more security personnel had been deployed.
