Daud Olatunji
Women, children and elderly residents have reportedly fled their homes following fresh attacks by suspected bandits on communities in Kebbe Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The attacks, which reportedly occurred in Ungushi, Maikurfuna and Gwandi communities, also resulted in the rustling of more than 300 cattle and seven camels, according to conflict sources.
Residents of Ungushi were said to have started arriving in Kebbe town from about 8pm on Saturday, with several displaced persons reportedly spending the night in the rain after fleeing their communities.
The development was disclosed on Sunday by conflict reporter, Bakatsine, in an update on the attacks.
According to the report, several men were also killed during the attacks, although the exact number of casualties could not immediately be ascertained.
Two victims, identified as Usman Umar Margai and Sani Abdullahi Gwandi, were reportedly receiving treatment at the General Hospital after sustaining gunshot wounds.
The reporter said more displaced residents were still arriving in Kebbe on Sunday morning, raising concerns over the scale of the displacement.
The attacks reportedly began in Ungushi, where an earlier alert had called for urgent security intervention after suspected bandits were sighted in the community and surrounding areas.
The latest incident has heightened concerns over the worsening security situation in parts of Sokoto State, where rural communities remain vulnerable to attacks, livestock rustling and displacement.
The fleeing of women, children and elderly residents underscores the humanitarian consequences of the attacks, as affected families are being forced to abandon their homes and means of livelihood.
Livestock rustling has also compounded the situation, with the reported loss of more than 300 cattle and seven camels threatening the economic survival of affected residents, many of whom depend on livestock for their livelihoods.
As of Sunday, there was no official statement from the Sokoto State Government or security agencies confirming the casualty figures, the extent of the livestock losses or the circumstances surrounding the attacks.
Residents and community sources are, however, said to be seeking increased security presence in the affected communities to prevent further attacks and facilitate the return of displaced families.
The attacks add to the growing wave of insecurity across parts of northern Nigeria, where armed groups have continued to target vulnerable rural communities, forcing residents to flee and disrupting farming and livestock activities.
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