Former Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, and the African Democratic Congress governorship candidate in the state for the 2027 election, Manir Dan’iya, have called for security interventions, following bandit attacks in the state.
Barely 48 hours after a bandit raid claimed 17 lives in the Dan Gulbi community of Tureta Local Government Area, the village came under another attack on Tuesday, with residents reporting that more than 20 people may have been killed and several houses were razed.
Residents said heavily armed bandits riding motorcycles stormed the community at about 8:00 a.m., firing indiscriminately and forcing villagers to flee.
“They came and started shooting at us. People ran in different directions to save their lives,” a resident told reporters, adding that the attackers remained in the village for hours and set several houses ablaze.
The attack occurred just two days after bandits reportedly invaded the same community on Sunday, killing 17 people, including Eid-el-Kabir visitors, and looting dozens of shops.
Reacting to the renewed violence, Tambuwal described the repeated attacks as “painful, unacceptable, and a direct assault on the peace and security of our communities.”
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the former governor expressed deep sorrow over the killings, destruction of property, and displacement of residents.
“These repeated attacks on innocent citizens are painful, unacceptable, and a direct assault on the peace and security of our communities,” Tambuwal said.
He extended condolences to the families of the victims and urged security agencies to intensify efforts to restore peace across vulnerable communities in the Sokoto-Zamfara axis.
“Our people deserve to live in safety and pursue their livelihoods without fear,” he added.
Dan’iya, on his part, expressed concern over the fresh assault, describing it as evidence of the urgent need to review existing security strategies in the state.
According to him, the recurring attacks on rural communities highlighted the vulnerability of residents despite repeated calls for decisive action against criminal elements.
“Leadership is tested most during moments of crisis. Citizens expect not only action but also empathy and reassurance from those entrusted with the responsibility of governance,” Dan’iya said in a statement issued through his Press Secretary, Aminu Abdullahi.
“The people deserve to know that their concerns are being heard and that every effort is being made to secure their communities,” he added.
Dan’iya called for enhanced intelligence gathering, stronger collaboration among security agencies, and increased protection for vulnerable communities.
He also urged security operatives to identify, arrest, and prosecute those behind the attacks while appealing to community leaders and residents to support security agencies with credible information.
The state police command confirmed receiving a distress call from Tureta and said personnel had been deployed to the area.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Rufai, said a comprehensive report was being awaited from officers on the ground.