At least five people have been killed and nine women abducted after suspected bandits attacked Bargaje community in Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
Residents said the assailants, believed to be loyal to the notorious warlord Bello Turji, invaded the village on Friday night, riding on motorcycles and firing sporadly as they advanced.
The attack, which reportedly lasted for several hours, left many villagers scampering into nearby bushes for safety as the gunmen looted homes and set several houses ablaze.
“They came through the eastern part of the village and caught us off guard. Our local vigilantes tried to confront them but were overpowered,” a community member told Sunday Punch on condition of anonymity.
Although the Sokoto State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement as of press time, a senior police source confirmed the incident but declined to provide details of casualties.
Repeated calls to the Command’s spokesperson, ASP Ahmed Rufai, were unsuccessful.
Meanwhile, the Isa Local Government Council has dismissed reports circulating on social media accusing its chairman, Sharehu Kamarawa, of ignoring intelligence warnings before the attack.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the council described the allegation as “false, baseless, and malicious,” insisting that proactive steps were taken once credible intelligence was received.
“Upon receiving the alert, the council mobilised vigilante groups and informed relevant security agencies. Unfortunately, the bandits changed route and struck at Bargaje,” the statement read.
The council said the local security commander in charge of the area had been sanctioned and replaced to improve coordination and response in future.
Chairman Kamarawa reiterated his administration’s commitment to supporting ongoing security operations through logistics, fuel supply, and welfare assistance to both formal and community security teams.
He also appealed to residents to avoid spreading unverified information that could undermine security efforts.
“Security is a shared responsibility. What we need is cooperation, vigilance, and credible intelligence, not rumours that weaken our collective resolve,” he said.
