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No fewer than 30 villages in Danchadi District of Bodinga Local Government Area of Sokoto State have been deserted following sustained attacks by bandits, according to an official report submitted by the district authorities.
The attacks, which took place between Wednesday and Thursday, left at least six people dead, displaced hundreds of residents and resulted in the rustling of more than 1,000 livestock.
The report, obtained by Daily Trust, was signed by the District Head of Danchadi, Alhaji Lirwanu Mafaran Kuwarun Sarkin Musulmi, and addressed to the Chairman of Bodinga Local Government Council.
Copies of the report were also forwarded to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), the Divisional Officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Department of State Services (DSS) in the area.
Dated July 3, 2026, the report stated that bandits killed six residents in Kyaluje and Dibarke communities and rustled more than 1,000 livestock, including cattle and camels, during the attacks.
A senior traditional ruler in the district, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the report, saying he personally delivered copies to some of the security agencies operating in the area.
The affected communities include Gidan Gadanga, Gidan Dan Bube, Dutsin Mai Gunya, Batsauje, Sire Modi, Gwantsi, Kore Maiganga, Bangi Rafi, Bangi Dutsin, Yabawa, Lageji, Bille, Gonin Gari, Wumumu, Chohi, Saran Malan, Wure Yal’dde, Gidan Hodi, Dabugi, Rukusawa, Tunga, Lakes, Maikataru, Dutsin Toka, Karaje, Kwantsi Buga, Yan Gidaje, Runbuki, Kwantsi Tunga and Lau Gari.
The district head appealed for urgent government intervention to restore security and enable displaced residents to return to their communities.
Daily Trust gathered that hundreds of residents have fled to Danchadi, Bodinga and Sifawa towns, where many are taking shelter in schools and relatives’ homes.
One of the displaced residents from Kyaluje, Malam Mainasara Danjumma, recounted how armed men stormed the village at about 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday while many residents were on their farms and others were resting at home.
He said the attackers remained in the community until midnight, moving from house to house, looting valuables and mobile phones, and assaulting several women, including his wife.
According to him, the bandits killed the village’s Chief Imam, Malam Bashar Kyaluje, and two other residents during the attack.
“We are in a state of confusion and distress. Some of us are still searching for our family members because the village has been completely devastated,” he said.
He added that the gunmen searched every house in the village and carted away anything of value.
“There was no house that they did not enter. They took everything they found, including mobile phones, regardless of how old or cheap they were,” he said.
Danjumma appealed to the government to urgently intervene and strengthen security in the area.
“We have repeatedly reported our plight, but no action has been taken. The bandits had made several attempts to invade our community before, but they were unsuccessful until this latest attack,” he added.
Another resident of Danchadi, who identified himself simply as Malam Shuaibu, told Daily Trust that some displaced villagers had started returning to their communities despite the absence of any fresh deployment of security personnel to the affected areas.
He expressed concern that the return of residents without adequate security could expose them to renewed attacks, urging the authorities to deploy security operatives to safeguard lives and property.
All efforts to obtain the reaction of the Chairman of Bodinga Local Government Area, Alh Muhammad Shehu, were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to repeated phone calls.
However, in an earlier interview with our reporter, the chairman said the local government was yet to ascertain the actual number of people affected by the attacks.
Efforts to obtain the reaction of the spokesperson for the Sokoto State Police Command were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to repeated telephone calls as of the time of filing this report.
