Sokoto: Bandits kill two, displace residents in Bargaja Community

Sokoto: Bandits kill two, displace residents in Bargaja Community 

Suspected bandits have killed two residents of Bargaja town in Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State, forcing many villagers to flee their homes following a late-night attack on the community.

Residents said the attackers stormed the town around 1:30 a.m. on Sunday, triggering panic as people hurriedly evacuated to safer locations, including Sokoto metropolis and neighboring communities.

A security analyst, Bashiru Altine Giyawa, who confirmed the incident, said Bargaja had long been one of the few communities in the area resisting repeated attacks from fighters loyal to notorious bandit kingpin Bello Turji.

According to him, members of the local vigilante group engaged the attackers in a gun battle in an attempt to defend the community.

“The vigilantes confronted the bandits during the attack, leading to a fierce exchange of gunfire. Sadly, two of the defenders lost their lives during the confrontation,” he said.

The victims were identified as Umaru Biri and Garba Mumminu, who reportedly died from gunshot wounds sustained during the attack.

Altine added that some bandits were also believed to have been killed during the clash, but their bodies were taken away by their colleagues into forest hideouts.

Eyewitnesses described the situation in Bargaja, located in eastern Sokoto, as tense, noting that frequent attacks linked to Turji’s network have continued to cause killings and displacement in the area.

Displaced residents, mostly women and children, were seen boarding vehicles and leaving the community with their belongings, expressing fears over the worsening insecurity.

When contacted, the spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force in Kebbi State, DSP Ahmed Rufai, said the command had received a video circulating on social media about the incident.

He added that the police were investigating the situation to ascertain the true circumstances surrounding the attack.

Rufai assured that security agencies were working to ensure the safety of citizens and restore calm in affected communities.