2.8.2026
Twelve persons have been killed by bandits who attacked Lajinge village in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
According to reports by the Daily Trust, six of the victims belonging to one family were burnt alive in their own home, while the others were shot at pointblank. The attackers arrived in the community around 11.00pm on Saturday and stayed ransacking the location till 3.30am on Sunday morning.
“They ordered those inside to come out but they refused. The attackers then poured petrol on the room and opened fire,” a resident of the community narrated.
“When those inside attempted to escape through the door, they kept shooting at them. Their bodies were left inside the burning room.”
Those killed include Mallam Wauro (popularly known as Mallam Roro); his two sons, Ukasha and Mujaheed; two other relatives identified as Sufyanu and Sani Shanbami; as well as an internally displaced person (IDP) who had been taking shelter in the house.
Another resident, who participated in the community’s local vigilante operation on the night of the attack, said they were keeping watch near the village primary school when the gunmen struck.
“We were at the primary school guarding the village when we suddenly heard heavy gunfire. We all ran for safety and kept moving from one hiding place to another whenever the shooting came closer,” he said.
He said after overpowering the local vigilantes, the attackers moved freely through the village, going from house to house while rustling cattle and sheep.
“They stationed one of their rifles in a strategic location that kept firing while the others entered houses to steal livestock,” he said.
“The bandits stayed in our village for hours without any intervention. They even walked along the main road laughing and smoking cigarettes as if they had conquered the community.”
The villagers alleged that security personnel stationed in Unguwar Lalle and Dan Tudu communities, both located about two kilometres from Lajinge, did not respond to repeated distress calls throughout the attack.
“We are Nigerians and we have voter cards. We elected the government to protect our lives and property. We are pleading with the authorities to deploy security personnel to safeguard our communities,” one resident lamented.
Sokoto State Police spokesperson, Ahmed Rufai said investigations are on going. The attack comes a week after bandits killed at least 24 farmers in neighboring Zamfara state.
Bandits invading a community.