The roar of military fighter jets pierced the skies of Sokoto metropolis and neighbouring council areas on Sunday, in what authorities described as a show of force against bandits who have terrorised the state for weeks.
But for residents like Hassan Dan Liman Kirare of Goronyo — who fled his ancestral home after repeated attacks — the thunderous sounds felt more like a bitter reminder than a relief.
“We begged for action when bandits were burning our villages and killing our people, but no one came. Now that our communities are empty, the jets are here,” he lamented.
The late arrival of air power has stirred anger among survivors and analysts, who see the operation as coming too little, too late. Entire communities across Sokoto North, Tureta, Isa, Goronyo, and Sabon Birni LGAs now lie deserted, with schools, markets, and farmlands abandoned.
In Lambara, Shagari LGA, a displaced farmer said: “We heard the roar of the jets and thought finally we are safe, but we returned to empty homes and abandoned farmlands. What is left to protect?”
While some locals welcomed the deployment as reassuring, others described the noise as terrifying, evoking images of war. Civil society leaders argue that decisive action months earlier could have saved lives and preserved livelihoods.
Security experts warn that sporadic shows of strength cannot substitute for a coordinated and sustained campaign against bandits. “What people need is long-term security and confidence in government protection, not theatrics,” one analyst told our correspondent.
The Defence Headquarters insists the air strikes form part of an intensified operation targeting bandit enclaves across the Northwest. Critics, however, view the move as largely symbolic, aimed at quelling growing public outrage.
Meanwhile, displaced villagers remain crowded in makeshift IDP camps, where hunger and despair overshadow hope. With the farming season nearly lost, humanitarian needs are mounting rapidly.
Traditional rulers and community leaders have urged government to prioritise proactive measures over reactionary displays, stressing that safeguarding lives and livelihoods must remain the central focus.
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For Sokoto’s displaced families, the deafening roar of jets is no substitute for the silence of their deserted homes. Their demand is simple: not just power in the skies, but real safety on the ground.
