Terrorists Launch Coordinated Night Attacks on Four Communities, Kill 12 and Abduct 25

Terrorists Launch Coordinated Night Attacks on Four Communities, Kill 12 and Abduct 25

In what residents have described as “one of the darkest nights in recent months,” heavily armed terrorists launched coordinated attacks on four communities in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State late Thursday night, leaving at least 12 people dead, 25 kidnapped, and 10 injured.

The simultaneous assaults, which occurred around 11:00 pm, targeted the villages of Yaburutu, Gajit, Aikarawa, and Derimageji, causing widespread fear and chaos as families fled into nearby bushes seeking safety.

Yaburutu: Four Killed, Five Kidnapped

According to local sources, the terrorists first stormed Yaburutu, shooting sporadically and attacking homes.

By the time the gunfire subsided, four residents had been killed, five abducted, and two others severely injured.

A community member who escaped narrowly said the attackers arrived on motorcycles, breaking into houses and dragging out victims:

   “They moved from compound to compound. Many of us were hiding in the bush, listening to the gunshots.”

Aikarawa: One Killed, Eight Kidnapped

In Aikarawa, the terrorists reportedly split into smaller groups, ransacking households and taking away residents.

The attack left one person dead, eight kidnapped, and three injured.

Locals say the injured victims are currently receiving treatment in neighboring communities due to limited medical facilities in the area.

Gajit: Three Killed, Two Abducted

The community of Gajit was not spared.

Gunmen killed three people, abducted two, and left one person injured after a violent invasion that lasted nearly an hour.

Residents told reporters that calls for security assistance went unanswered for several hours.

Derimageji: Four Killed, Ten Kidnapped

The deadliest of the assaults occurred in Derimageji, where four people were killed and ten others kidnapped.

Witnesses say the attackers operated with “confidence and precision,” suggesting that the assault was well-coordinated.

Four additional residents were injured during the attack

The string of attacks has heightened tension across Sabon Birni LGA, an area that has suffered repeated terrorist and bandit incursions in recent years.

Traditional leaders, local vigilantes, and residents are calling for urgent intervention from both the state and federal governments to prevent further tragedies.

A youth leader in the area lamented:

> “We cannot sleep, we cannot farm, we cannot live freely. Every day we bury our people. We need help now"

As of the time of this report, security agencies and the Sokoto State Government have not issued an official statement regarding the attacks. However, community members say joint operations are urgently needed to track the attackers and rescue the kidnapped victims.

Sabon Birni, one of the border LGAs in Sokoto State, has become a focal point of terrorist activity, with recurrent kidnappings, killings, and displacement of residents. Thursday night’s attacks mark another tragic chapter in the escalating insecurity plaguing the region.

Residents fear that unless decisive action is taken, more communities may fall victim in the coming days.