Vigilantes Killed in Sokoto During Gun Battle With Armed Bandits

At least 11 members of a local vigilante group have been confirmed dead after a deadly clash with armed bandits in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

The tragic incident occurred on Friday when the community-based vigilante team confronted a group of around 40 bandits trying to invade Magonho village. According to reports, the bandits were riding about 20 motorcycles and carrying heavy weapons.

A local resident shared that the vigilantes tried to stop the attackers before they could raid the village, but the bandits opened fire. “At first, only two vigilante members were confirmed dead.

But by Saturday, more bodies were found in the Lakurawa forest, bringing the number to 11,” the source explained.

The Lakurawa forest, believed to be a hideout for the criminal group, became the focus of recovery efforts after the initial battle.

Another eyewitness said that the vigilantes had received intelligence about the movement of the armed men and responded swiftly. They managed to push back the attackers and even recovered some stolen livestock.

Following the first encounter, troops from the Forward Operating Base in Masallaci joined the operation and were able to retrieve some of the rustled animals.

However, the bandits later returned to Magonho, set fire to the community’s MTN communication mast, and fired shots into the air before escaping into the forest again.

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Efforts are still ongoing to recover more bodies and find missing vigilante members. Security operatives, including soldiers and other law enforcement teams from Binji and Racca, are searching the dense Lakurawa forest.

The Sokoto vigilante attack has once again brought attention to the growing insecurity in rural parts of the state, where local vigilante groups often act as the main defense against armed gangs.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the Sokoto Police Command, Ahmed Rufai, confirmed the attack and the destruction of the MTN mast but could not give an exact number of those killed at the time.

He said, “Yes, there was a report of an attack and that the MTN mast was set on fire. But I can’t confirm the number of casualties yet.”

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