No fewer than 12 persons have been killed in a deadly attack by suspected bandits on Lajinge village in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

Residents said the assailants stormed the community around 11:00 p.m. on Saturday and operated for several hours, leaving destruction in their wake before withdrawing at about 3:30 a.m. on Sunday.

According to eyewitness accounts, 11 victims were killed by gunfire, while a woman identified as Agada reportedly died from shock during the incident.

A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed that six people were burnt alive after the attackers set fire to a room where they had taken refuge.

“They asked those inside to come out, but they refused. The attackers poured petrol on the room and opened fire.

 

When the occupants tried to escape, they were shot, and their bodies were left in the burning building,” the source said.

Those killed in the fire included the head of the household, Mallam Wauro, popularly known as Mallam Roro; his two sons, Ukasha and Mujaheed; two relatives identified as Sufyanu and Sani Shanbami; and an internally displaced person who had been sheltering in the house.

Another victim, Lawwali, was reportedly shot dead while attempting to flee from the same compound, bringing the death toll in that location alone to seven.

Other victims, including Yusuf and three internally displaced persons, were said to have been killed while trying to escape from the village.

A member of the local vigilante group said they were on guard near the village primary school when the attack began.

“We suddenly heard heavy gunfire and had to run for safety, moving from one hiding place to another as the attackers advanced,” he said.

After overpowering the vigilantes, the gunmen reportedly moved from house to house, rustling cattle and sheep. They were said to have stationed one rifle at a strategic point to provide cover while others carried out looting operations.

The attackers later targeted the residence of Mallam Wauro, where they killed him and two of his sons, abducted his two wives, and carted away livestock.

Residents said they could not immediately determine the number of abducted persons, noting that while many villagers were taken, some, especially children, were later released.

The community lamented the absence of security intervention despite the prolonged nature of the attack.

“The attackers stayed for hours without any response. They even walked along the main road freely, as if nothing would happen,” a resident said.

Villagers alleged that security personnel stationed in nearby communities, including Unguwar Lalle and Dan Tudu, failed to respond to repeated distress calls.

They added that appeals for increased security presence in the area had gone unanswered, despite a similar attack three weeks earlier that claimed eight lives.

“We are Nigerians with voter cards. We elected leaders to protect us. We are pleading with the authorities to deploy security personnel to safeguard our communities,” another resident appealed.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Ahmad Rufai, said he was not aware of the incident and would verify the report.

He had yet to provide further updates as of the time of filing this report.