People from at least 21 villages in Sokoto State have left their homes because bandits have threatened and attacked them many times.
The villages that were affected are Gidan Kare, Kaware, Chabi, Dattabi, Janwake, Sha Rana, Darbekami, Gidan Sule, Kuruwa, Mahuta, Dantayawa, Kawala, Bagirbe, Tsattsagi, Katsira, Imasa, Bela, Hura Girke, Galadimmai, and Asha Ruwa.
According to Daily Trust, many of the people who have been forced to leave their homes are now residing in Tureta town and the districts around it. They are living in very bad conditions, such as being overcrowded, hungry, and lacking basic help.
A local remarked that majority of the people who had to leave their homes are staying with family members instead of in organized camps.
He remarked, “Most of the people who have been displaced would rather stay with family members who can give them shelter.”
He further said that the number of displaced people coming to Tureta has been rising for nearly three days.
“About three days ago, they started coming to Tureta in large numbers,” he claimed.
Others are now staying at the Abdulbaki Model Primary School in Tureta, where reports say that more than 1,000 people sleep in cramped classrooms at night without any help from humanitarian groups.
A person from the village of Kuruwa reported that constant attacks made them leave their houses and belongings.
“We can’t stay in our homes anymore.” Before Ramadan, bandits have assaulted our village more than once. “We had to leave, but it wasn’t easy,” he added.
Another villager from Gidan Kare stated they heard gunfire almost every night, which scared the people who lived there.
“Our homes are empty, and we are worried about our kids’ safety.” He replied, “We hope the government will keep us safe.”
A man from Bagirbe village who is old remarked that a lot of them now sleep in Tureta every night out of fear.
He responded, “Most of us are now in Tureta, and anyone you see here is not living in peace.”
A person from Sha Rana village said they left yesterday evening after hearing about a planned large-scale attack.
“We left our homes tonight because we were told that the bandits would come in large numbers.” He remarked, “We can’t go back until safety gets better.”
Then he asked the authorities to act quickly.
“Please give us safety.” “Don’t wait until election time to come and ask for our votes,” he said.
Another person from Kuruwa reported that the attackers often kill people at random during raids.
“When they come, they kill men, women, children, and even old people. He said, “That’s why we ran away to Tureta to save our lives.”
He also said that some peasants who can’t go to Tureta now hide in the bushes at night to stay safe.
He answered, “Those who couldn’t make it here hide in the bush at night.”
A woman from Gidan Kare who has four children reported that repeated attacks killed a number of people before they ran away.
“Thieves killed a lot of individuals before we ran away. She remarked, “Sometimes our husbands come back to the village to get things they can sell so we can eat.”
Another pregnant woman from the village of Hura Girke claimed she is presently living at the primary school under tough conditions.
“I am going to have a baby in less than a month, but I don’t have enough food.” She said, “We are suffering here.”
She begged for quick help so they could get back home safely.
“We need safety so we can go back to our farms and live in peace,” she said.
Attempts to get in touch with Col. Usman Ahmad (rtd), the Sokoto State Governor’s Special Adviser on Security, and DSP Ahmad Rufai, the Sokoto State Police Command’s spokesperson, were unsuccessful. As of the time of this report, they had not responded to calls or texts.
The displaced families are still living in harsher and worse humanitarian conditions as they ask the government to quickly restore safety in their villages.
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