Sokoto State bandits kill two soldiers and abduct dozens in coordinated attacks

Heavy‑armed bandits ambushed a Nigerian army patrol in Sokoto State, killing two soldiers and wounding three more during a routine security operation along a border corridor. The troops returned fire and forced the attackers to retreat, while the casualties were evacuated to a military medical facility.

Later in the same region, bandits stormed the villages of Takatsaba and Tarah in Sabon Birni Local Government Area. The attack killed a 10‑year‑old boy and injured three residents. In total, 43 people were abducted, including married women, children and members of several households; nine of the abductees were later released, while the remaining captives remain missing. Villagers reported a lack of security reinforcement during both incidents and accused authorities of neglect.

The violence underscores the escalating insecurity in north‑west Nigeria, where bandit groups exploit porous borders and sophisticated weapons to target both military forces and civilian communities.