Sokoto bandit attack: Eight farmers killed, five injured in alleged reprisal

Sokoto bandit attack: Eight farmers killed, five injured in alleged reprisal

At least eight farmers have been killed and five others injured after suspected bandits attacked Ghandi community in Rabah Local Government Area of Sokoto State, with residents alleging that the assault was carried out in retaliation for recent security operations against armed groups in the area.

The attack occurred on Sunday afternoon, August 30, when the assailants reportedly stormed the community at about 3pm and opened fire on farmers, triggering panic among residents.

The spokesman for the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmed Rufai, confirmed that eight farmers were killed and five others sustained gunshot injuries.

Rufai said the command was aware of the incident and was gathering additional information to establish the full circumstances surrounding the attack.

“Yes, we are aware of the attack. Eight farmers were killed while another five were injured. We will make it public once we are done with the information being gathered on it,” the police spokesman said.

A resident who spoke on condition of anonymity said the attackers arrived in the community around 3pm and began shooting at people.

The resident said no fewer than eight farmers were killed, while at least five others sustained gunshot wounds during the attack.

The source alleged that the assault was a reprisal attack, claiming that some members of the armed group had recently been killed during security operations in the area.

“We believe this was a retaliatory attack because some members of the group were killed by security personnel in the last few days,” the resident said.

The alleged motive has not been independently confirmed by the police, which said investigations and information gathering were still ongoing.

The latest violence has heightened concerns among residents of Ghandi and neighbouring communities, particularly farmers who depend on access to their fields for their livelihoods.

The attack also came amid heightened military activity in the area.

The Nigerian Army said troops operating under Operation FANSAN YAMMA foiled an attempted advance by armed terrorists towards Ghandi town on Sunday.

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According to the Army, troops of Sector 2 received intelligence about the movement of an armed group towards the area and deployed to strategic positions around Ghandi Bridge.

The troops subsequently engaged the attackers, forcing them to retreat after coming under military fire.

The Army said several members of the armed group sustained gunshot wounds, while some reportedly attempted to escape by jumping into a nearby river.

The military did not establish a direct link between the operation and the attack on farmers in its initial account.

It also did not state whether the armed group confronted by troops was responsible for the earlier attack on the farming community.

The sequence of events has nevertheless raised concerns about a possible escalation of violence in Rabah LGA, particularly if the attack was indeed connected to recent security operations.

There have also been differing accounts of the number of people killed in the wider violence.

While the Sokoto police confirmed eight farmers killed and five injured in the Ghandi attack, another account citing a security source put the number of deaths at five across Ghandi and nearby Gidan Kare communities.

That account alleged that three people were killed in Ghandi and two in Gidan Kare, while some houses were reportedly set ablaze.

The conflicting casualty figures have not been independently reconciled, but the police confirmation remains the clearest official account available on the Ghandi attack.

The incident adds to the growing security challenges confronting farming communities across Sokoto State and Nigeria’s North-West.

Bandit groups operating in the region have been accused of carrying out killings, kidnappings, cattle rustling, attacks on villages and assaults on farmers.

The persistent insecurity has also affected agricultural activities, with some farmers reluctant to travel to remote farms because of the risk of being attacked or abducted.

For communities such as Ghandi, the security situation creates both an immediate humanitarian concern and a longer-term economic threat.

Farmers who are unable to safely access their fields may lose crops and income, while repeated attacks can worsen food insecurity and deepen economic hardship.

The alleged reprisal nature of the attack is also significant because retaliatory violence can create a cycle in which security operations against armed groups are followed by attacks on civilians perceived to be vulnerable.

Security agencies have continued to intensify operations against armed groups in the North-West, including Sokoto, as part of efforts to protect communities, disrupt criminal networks and restore access to rural areas.

However, the latest Sokoto bandit attack demonstrates the continuing difficulty of protecting dispersed farming communities from armed groups operating across large rural areas.

Authorities are expected to provide further information as investigations continue and security agencies assess the situation in Ghandi and surrounding communities.

For now, the Sokoto State Police Command has confirmed that eight farmers were killed and five others injured, while the claim that the attack was carried out as a reprisal remains an allegation pending further confirmation.

The latest incident has renewed calls for sustained security operations and stronger protection for farmers and rural residents in Rabah Local Government Area, particularly as agricultural communities continue to face threats from armed groups.

Sokoto bandit attack: Eight farmers killed, five injured in alleged reprisal