*Massive Protest Rocks Bodinga LG Over Fresh Insecurity, Demonstrators Block Major Highway
*Order Restored Now, Police Say
By Rosemary Ameh, Sokoto
Sokoto State Police Command has crushed a coordinated attack by suspected terrorists on Daraye village in Wamakko Local Government Area (LGA) of the state, killing one of the assailants, recovering an AK47 rifle and launching a manhunt for the fleeing suspects.
The operation followed a distress call in the early hours of Saturday, 4 July, that a large group of heavily armed terrorists had invaded the community.
The development prompted the swift deployment of tactical police teams to the area.
In a statement issued on Sunday, 5 July, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Command, Deputy Superintendent (DSP) Ahmad Rufai, said the Command received the emergency alert at about 1:35 a.m. on Saturday and immediately deployed operatives from the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, the Village Crime Reduction Unit (VCRU) and other tactical teams to reinforce officers at the Wamakko Divisional headquarters.
The combined security team engaged the attackers in a fierce gun battle, overpowering them and forcing them to flee into the forest, with varying degrees of gunshot injuries.
A follow-up combing operation led to the neutralising of one suspected bandit. Police also recovered one AK47 rifle, one magazine and 28 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition from the suspect.
The Command said efforts are ongoing to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects, while assuring residents that security operations have been intensified to sustain the fight against banditry across the state.
Protest Rocks Bodinga Over Renewed Attacks
Meanwhile, residents of Bodinga LGA of the state on Friday staged a massive protest following renewed bandit attacks that reportedly claimed several lives, left many people abducted and displaced scores of residents across affected communities.
The protesters blocked the Sokoto-Jega-Yauri highway, a major road linking Sokoto with Kebbi and Niger states, demanding urgent government intervention to end the worsening insecurity in the area.
The protest disrupted traffic for several hours as demonstrators burned tyres and placed logs across sections of the highway.
Some vehicles, including a bus belonging to the Kebbi State Transport Authority (KSTA) were reportedly vandalised before security operatives restored order.
The demonstration followed coordinated attacks allegedly carried out by armed bandits on several villages in Bodinga LGA on Thursday.
The assailants reportedly killed several people, abducted others and forced hundreds of residents to flee their homes.
Many of the displaced persons have since taken refuge in temporary camps and public buildings in Bodinga town.
Local sources said the attackers invaded the affected villages at about 2 p.m. on Thursday and operated until the early hours of Friday, leaving widespread destruction and panic.
Many residents immediately fled to neighbouring communities, while several others remain unaccounted for.
The latest attacks underscore the persistent security challenges confronting communities in Sokoto State and the wider North-West, where recurring incidents of banditry, kidnapping, killings and displacement continue despite ongoing security operations.
In response, a delegation of government officials and local security chiefs visited the affected communities to assess the situation and sympathise with victims.
The delegation included the Speaker of the Sokoto State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Tukur Bala Bodinga; the member representing Bodinga, Hon. Dange Shuni; and that for Tureta Federal Constituency, Rep. Nasiru Shehu Bobo; the Secretary to the State Government, Muhammad Bello Sifawa; Local Government officials, traditional rulers and security commanders.
Speaking during the visit, Bobo described the attacks as tragic and unacceptable, assuring residents that additional security personnel had been deployed to restore peace and protect lives and property.
He also pledged continued collaboration with security agencies and relevant authorities to address the security challenges confronting the area.
The State Police Command confirmed the attacks.
PPRO Rufai said security operatives carried out intensive operations in the affected communities from Thursday afternoon until about 3 a.m. on Friday.
According to him, additional security reinforcements had been deployed to strengthen operations, reopen the highway and restore normalcy to the affected communities.
*PHOTO CAPTION: A gang of terrorists on patrol.
