At least two individuals have tragically lost their lives, and numerous residents have been displaced following a renewed bandit attack in Bargaja town during the early hours of Sunday.
Local sources reported that the assailants stormed the community around 1:30 a.m., triggering widespread panic as villagers sought refuge in safer locations, including Sokoto metropolis and neighboring communities.
Security analyst Bashiru Altine Giyawa confirmed the attack, noting that Bargaja had been one of the few communities in the area to consistently resist raids by fighters linked to the notorious bandit leader Bello Turji.
“The vigilante group confronted the bandits in a fierce exchange of gunfire. Unfortunately, two vigilantes lost their lives during the confrontation,” Altine stated.
The victims were identified as Umaru Biri and Garba Mumminu, both of whom reportedly succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained during the clash.
Residents also claimed that several bandits were killed, though their bodies were allegedly carried away by their fellow fighters into nearby forest hideouts.
Eyewitnesses described the situation in Bargaja, located in eastern Sokoto, as extremely tense.
They highlighted that repeated attacks linked to Turji’s network have led to ongoing killings and mass displacement. Many displaced residents, predominantly women and children, were observed leaving the town with their belongings, driven by fears that the insecurity was not being adequately addressed.
