Suspected bandits have killed four farmers and abducted at least 12 others during an attack on farmlands in Ghandi District of Rabah Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
Residents and local security sources said the attack occurred on Tuesday while victims were working on their farms on the outskirts of the community.
A resident, Ibrahim Umar Ghandi, said the gunmen stormed the farmland while some of his relatives were working there after he had earlier granted them permission to use the land.
“It was close to my farmland where the attack occurred… they were on the farm around 11 a.m. when the bandits attacked,” he said.
He added that the attackers shot four farmers dead and abducted several others during the assault.
Another resident, Muhammed Sani, said the incident may have occurred earlier than reported, noting that the attack was only discovered hours later.
“We believe the attack happened around 9 a.m., but it was not discovered until about 11 a.m. We are living in constant fear because no one is safe,” he said.
A member of the Sokoto State Community Guard Corps, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that security personnel who visited the scene identified at least 12 abducted victims, alongside four fatalities and one injured person.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the Sokoto State Police Command, Ahmad Rufa’i, said he had not yet received full details of the incident but promised to make inquiries.
“I am not aware of the attack at the moment, but I will contact the divisional police officer in charge of the area,” he said.
As of press time, authorities had yet to issue an official statement on the attack or efforts to rescue the victims.
The latest assault adds to growing insecurity in parts of eastern Sokoto, where rural communities in Rabah, Sabon Birni, Isa and Goronyo local government areas have continued to experience repeated attacks, kidnappings and cattle rustling despite ongoing security operations.
Residents say the worsening violence is disrupting farming activities and deepening fears among rural populations at the peak of the rainy season.
