Suspected terrorists killed at least six soldiers and 12 other people, and abducted no fewer than 75 residents, in coordinated late-night attacks on Kasuwar Daji community in Kaura-Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State and Lajinge village in Sabon-Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The gunmen struck Kasuwar Daji around 11:30pm on Saturday, overrunning a military outpost stationed in the area before opening sporadic gunfire on residents. A resident, Alhaji Aminu Kasuwar Daji, said the attackers stormed the community in large numbers and quickly overpowered the troops guarding it.
“Our call to Zamfara State and the federal government is to come to the aid of Zamfara people generally on this insecurity bedevilling the state. We are really in danger if terrorists can overpower the military and succeed in their attacks on innocent citizens,” he said.
A former deputy speaker of the Zamfara State House of Assembly, Namadi Kasuwar Daji, confirmed the attack and the abduction of an unspecified number of residents. He said he learned of the incident from relatives while travelling outside the state.
“I was told that the terrorists even killed soldiers but I was not told the actual number. I was also told that after looting shops for foodstuffs, drinks and other properties, they abducted an unspecified number of residents and took them into the bush,” he said.
The state police command’s spokesperson, DSP Yazid Abubakar, said he was unaware of the attack but promised to confirm details after reaching out to officers in the area. He had not responded as of press time.
Father, two sons burnt alive in Sokoto attack
In the Sokoto attack, 12 people were killed, six of them burnt alive, when suspected terrorists invaded Lajinge village at about 11pm on Saturday and remained in the community until roughly 3:30am the following day without any security intervention.
A resident said 11 victims died from gunshot wounds, while a woman identified as Agada died from severe shock during the attack. Six others were burnt alive after gunmen surrounded a room where they had taken refuge.
“They ordered those inside to come out but they refused. The attackers then poured petrol on the room and opened fire. When those inside attempted to escape through the door, they kept shooting at them. Their bodies were left inside the burning room,” the resident said.
Those killed in the fire were identified as household head Mallam Wauro, popularly known as Mallam Roro; his two sons, Ukasha and Mujaheed; two relatives, Sufyanu and Sani Shanbami; and an internally displaced person sheltering in the house. Another victim, Lawwali, was shot dead at the entrance while trying to flee, bringing the death toll in the compound to seven.
The remaining victims, including one identified as Yusuf and three other internally displaced persons, were shot while trying to escape the village.
A local vigilante member said the attackers struck while they were guarding the village primary school. “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.
After overpowering the vigilantes, the gunmen moved freely through the village, rustling cattle and sheep while stationing armed men to keep firing as others raided homes. They later attacked Mallam Wauro’s residence, killing him and two sons, abducting his two wives and carting away his cattle.
Residents said they could not immediately confirm how many people were abducted, noting that some, particularly children, were later released. They said no security reinforcement arrived despite the attack lasting about four hours.
“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,” one resident said.
Residents alleged that security personnel stationed in Unguwar Lalle and Dan Tudu, both about two kilometres from Lajinge, failed to respond despite repeated distress calls. They said community leaders had long appealed for security deployment to no avail, adding that eight people were killed in the same community about three weeks ago.
“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 said.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Rufai, said he was unaware of the incident and was in transit, promising to verify it upon reaching his office. He had not responded as of press time.
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