In the early hours of Sallah day, gunmen launched a deadly attack on Tudun Doki village in Sokoto State, abducting numerous residents. The attack, which occurred around 1:30 am, has left the community in shock and mourning.
Ahmed Rufa’i, the Public Relations Officer of the Sokoto State Police Command, confirmed the incident. He reported that six bodies have been recovered so far, but the exact number of abducted individuals remains unknown as investigations continue.
Sokoto is one of several states in Nigeria’s northwestern and central regions plagued by heavily armed gangs. These gangs are notorious for mass abductions for ransom, as well as for burning and looting homes. They maintain camps in vast forests spanning Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, and Niger states. In recent years, they have also been responsible for large-scale kidnappings of students from schools.
The frequency of these attacks has increased, particularly in Katsina and Zamfara states. Just last month, bandits raided four villages in Katsina’s Sabuwa district, killing 25 people, mostly local vigilantes. This attack was seen as retaliation for military offensives on the bandits’ hideouts, according to a local official.
While these bandits are primarily motivated by financial gain and lack any clear ideological agenda, analysts and officials are increasingly concerned about their growing alliance with jihadist groups. These jihadists have been waging a 15-year insurgency in the northeast of Nigeria.
The situation in Sokoto and other affected states underscores the urgent need for enhanced security measures and a coordinated response to address the growing threat posed by these criminal gangs.