State Orders School Closure After Deadly Bandit Attacks

At least 11 people have been killed in fresh attacks by suspected bandits in Rabah and Sabon Birni Local Government Areas of Sokoto State, forcing the state government to close public schools in several parts of the state over growing security concerns.

The latest violence occurred on Monday in Maikujera village, Rabah LGA, where seven people, including two operatives of the Sokoto Community Guard Corps (SCGC), lost their lives during an attack by armed men.

Three women were also killed in the nearby Angamba community during the assault, while the attackers reportedly abducted several other residents.

The incident came barely a day after another deadly attack in Unguwan Lalle community in Sabon Birni LGA, where four residents were killed and several others sustained injuries after heavily armed bandits invaded the village.

Security sources said the attackers arrived in Maikujera on more than 30 motorcycles at about 2:30 p.m. on Monday and opened fire on residents before taking an unknown number of people into captivity.

The two SCGC personnel were killed while attempting to repel the attackers and protect members of the community.

Community security operatives were said to have struggled to match the attackers’ firepower due to poor logistics, including inadequate ammunition and a lack of armoured vehicles.

According to security sources, the gunmen were believed to have entered the area through Bakura Local Government Area of neighbouring Zamfara State.

The attackers reportedly attempted to steal livestock, but violence broke out after residents resisted. Although a military base is located close to the community, security personnel reportedly arrived after the gunmen had already escaped into the Bakura forest.

In the earlier attack on Unguwan Lalle, residents said about 200 armed men wearing military uniforms stormed the village around 8 p.m. on Sunday and remained there for several hours.

The attackers reportedly looted homes and shops, stole livestock and opened fire on residents trying to escape.

Two of those killed were identified as Bilyaminu Wakkala and Danbaki Tulunawa, while the remaining victims were said to be from nearby Kongurus village.

Residents also alleged that the attackers entered the community less than an hour after security personnel who had responded to an earlier incident left the area.

The spokesperson for the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmad Rufa’i, confirmed the killing of a farmer in the area but said authorities were still gathering details surrounding the attack on Unguwan Lalle.

Meanwhile, the Sokoto State Government has directed the immediate closure of all public primary and secondary schools located outside the state capital because of the worsening security situation.

The order, which took effect on Monday, excludes schools in Sokoto North and Sokoto South Local Government Areas, as well as selected schools in Wamakko, Dange Shuni and Kware LGAs.

Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Prof. Ahmed Ladan Ala, said the decision followed a directive from the Federal Government aimed at protecting students, teachers and other school workers as insecurity continues to spread across affected communities.

All affected public schools will remain closed until further notice.

The closure comes as schools were preparing to conclude the third term, with end-of-term examinations scheduled to begin next week.