Terror in Sokoto: Bandits Invade University Students’ Community, Demand Students, Shoot Cattle Owner

Terror in Sokoto: Bandits Invade University Students’ Community, Demand Students, Shoot Cattle Owner

SOKOTO STATE — Panic gripped residents of Gidan Sarki, a community situated near Usmanu Danfodiyo University (UDUS) in Sokoto State, following a midnight invasion by armed bandits. The attackers stormed the settlement, reportedly demanding that students residing in the area be brought out, before shooting a local resident and carting away dozens of cattle.

According to local sources, the heavily armed hoodlums trooped into the community under the cover of darkness, shooting indiscriminately and causing palpable fear among students and permanent residents alike. During the rampage, the assailants targeted households near the university’s vicinity, aggressively demanding information on the whereabouts of students living off-campus.

Eyewitnesses recounted that when the terror gang met resistance and failed to capture any students, they turned their aggression on livestock farmers in the area. A cattle owner who attempted to secure his properties was shot in the leg by the marauders.

“They came into the community shooting sporadically and asking for students to be brought out,” a local resident, Muhammad, disclosed. “When they couldn’t get what they wanted, they broke in, shot an old man in the leg, and went away with more than 20 cows. Thank God he survived and has been rushed to the hospital for medical attention.”

Police Confirm Incident, Deploy Operatives

Confirming the incident, the Sokoto State Police Command stated that security operatives were immediately mobilized to the scene following distress calls.

While initial accounts from locals estimated the stolen livestock to be over 20, police records put the final tally of rustled animals at 28. Authorities also clarified that the attackers did not manage to penetrate any official student hostels or staff residential areas on the main university campus, as security patrols and tactical teams quickly intercepted the area to restore normalcy.

The latest breach has, however, amplified growing security concerns among students and academics living in off-campus settlements surrounding higher institutions in the region, prompting calls for heightened surveillance and a permanent security outpost to forestall future occurrences.

 

Terror in Sokoto: Bandits Invade University Students’ Community, Demand Students, Shoot Cattle Owner