Bandits Kill Chief Imam, Two Others in Coordinated Sokoto Village Attacks

Bandits Kill Chief Imam, Two Others in Coordinated Sokoto Village Attacks

Suspected bandits have killed the Chief Imam of Talluje village and two other residents during coordinated attacks on Talluje and neighbouring Chofi communities in Bodinga Local Government Area of Sokoto State, forcing hundreds of residents to flee their homes amid renewed insecurity in Nigeria’s North-West.

The attacks, which occurred on Wednesday in Danchadi District, lasted for about two hours as heavily armed assailants stormed the communities, firing indiscriminately, looting livestock and sending terrified residents scrambling for safety. The latest violence underscores the persistent bandit attacks in Sokoto State, despite ongoing security operations across the region.

According to community sources, the attackers invaded both villages simultaneously at about 4:00 p.m., catching residents off guard. During the assault, the Chief Imam of Talluje was killed alongside two other residents whose identities had yet to be officially confirmed at the time of filing this report.

“The attacks started around 4 p.m. and continued until about 6 p.m. The bandits killed the Chief Imam of Talluje and two other persons before fleeing,” a community leader in Danchadi District said.

Residents said the attackers operated freely for nearly two hours before escaping with a large number of rustled cattle and other livestock. Although the exact number of stolen animals has not been confirmed, locals described the losses as significant.

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The attacks also triggered fresh displacement, with many families—particularly women, children and elderly residents—fleeing to Bodinga town and neighbouring communities in search of safety.

“As I speak, many displaced people are arriving with their belongings after escaping from the affected villages,” the community leader added.

According to residents, the gunmen entered the communities on motorcycles through Duma village, which borders Tureta Local Government Area, before launching the coordinated attacks.

A senior police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly, confirmed the attack and said security personnel had been deployed to the affected communities.

“We have received reports of the attack and mobilised our anti-kidnapping unit because there are fears the bandits may return,” the officer said.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmad Rufa’i, said he had not yet received a detailed briefing on the incident but promised to provide updates after making the necessary inquiries.

The latest killings mark the third reported killing of a Chief Imam in Sokoto State within recent weeks, highlighting the growing threat posed by armed groups operating across rural communities in the state.

Only days earlier, suspected bandits reportedly attacked Kuda-Kuda village in Goronyo Local Government Area, killing Chief Imam Liman Audu, three other residents and abducting several people, including women, while rustling livestock. Another recent attack in Illela Dawagware also claimed the life of an imam and three other residents, raising fresh concerns about the security situation in the state.

Despite intensified military and police operations aimed at dismantling criminal camps across Sokoto State and the wider North-West, residents say attacks have continued, disrupting farming activities, forcing repeated displacement and leaving many communities living in fear.

Community leaders have renewed calls on the Federal Government, the Sokoto State Government and security agencies to strengthen security in vulnerable rural communities, establish more permanent security posts and sustain operations against armed criminal groups.

The latest attack adds to the growing humanitarian crisis in parts of Sokoto State, where recurring bandit attacks have continued to claim lives, destroy livelihoods and displace hundreds of families.

Bandits Kill Chief Imam, Two Others in Coordinated Sokoto Village Attacks