Widespread fear and relentless bandit attacks have triggered mass displacements across Tureta and Dange/Shuni Local Government Areas in Sokoto State, with hundreds of families — mostly women and children — now forced to live in bushes, open fields, and under trees.
“I have not entered my house in three months,” said Halima, a mother of four from Tureta.
“Every night, we sleep under a tree. We live in fear, not knowing if the next sound we hear will be the bandits.”
More than a dozen villages have been repeatedly invaded by armed groups, who continue to loot homes, rustle livestock, and abduct locals at will. The economic fabric of the region — largely livestock and small-scale farming — lies in ruins, with entire communities plunged into poverty and hunger.
“They’ve taken everything,” said Malam Musa from Dange/Shuni. “We farmed and reared animals. Now, we are left with nothing.”
💥 “Zamfara Is at the Mercy of God” — Protesters March on Gusau
In neighboring Zamfara State, the frustration boiled over Thursday as displaced residents from over 30 villages in Kaura-Namoda LGA staged a peaceful protest in the state capital, Gusau.
Clad in desperation and carrying placards that read “We Need Peace” and “Our People Are Being Killed Daily,” the protesters — mostly women and children — stormed the Government House, demanding immediate intervention from Governor Dauda Lawal, Minister of State for Defence Bello Matawalle, and President Bola Tinubu.
“Most of our men have been killed or kidnapped. We've sold farms and homes to pay ransom,” said Lawal Kamilu, a leader from Dan-Isa.
“We are begging the government. This is our last hope.”
⚠️ Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
In Sokoto, schools have shut down. Children are out of classrooms and caught in the crossfire of trauma and uncertainty. Community leaders have called for a state of emergency and a permanent military presence, as temporary efforts continue to fall short.
“The terrain and frequency of attacks have overwhelmed us,” admitted a senior Tureta LGA official.
The call for immediate humanitarian aid is growing louder, with NGOs urging the state government to provide food, shelter, and medical assistance to displaced families.
🛡️ Government’s Response
Colonel Ahmed Usman (rtd), Special Adviser on Security to the Sokoto State Governor, acknowledged the crisis but maintained that efforts are ongoing.
“We’re seeing success with joint operations involving community guards,” he said.
“Governor Aminu Tambuwal is fully committed to supporting all security strategies.”
Col. Usman also appealed for patience and public prayers, promising that peace would eventually return.
