Bandit Attacks Kill Six and Displace Residents Across 30 Villages in Sokoto State, Nigeria

In early July 2026, armed bandits launched coordinated raids on more than 30 villages in the Danchadi District of Bodinga Local Government Area, Sokoto State. The assaults killed at least six people, including the village Chief Imam, and resulted in the theft of over 1,000 livestock (cattle and camels). Hundreds of residents fled to nearby towns and schools, with many still sheltering in relatives’ homes.

The violence sparked a protest on the Bodinga‑Sokoto highway, where residents blocked the road to demand urgent government intervention. Protesters reported deaths, displaced families, and missing relatives, and shared footage of people fleeing on foot.

Separately, Sokoto State police disclosed that a midnight raid on Daraye Village in Wamakko LGA was repelled, resulting in one bandit being killed and an AK‑47 with 28 rounds recovered. Police units from the Anti‑Kidnapping Unit and Violent Crime Response Centre were deployed.

Local officials, including the district head Alhaji Lirwanu Mafaran Kuwarun Sarkin Musulmi, have appealed for increased security deployments, warning that the absence of sustained patrols could invite further attacks.