Angry citizens of Bodinga Local Government Area, Sokoto State on Friday blocked the main Bodinga – Sokoto route in protest over the fresh wave of bandit assaults that have claimed lives, displaced families and left many residents missing.
The demonstrators blocked traffic and ignited fires on the road for many hours before being dispersed by security agents.
The reports said the demonstration blocked the Speaker of the Sokoto state House of Assembly, Hon. Tukur Bala Bodinga from passing through while the windscreen of his official car was damaged.
The demonstrators blamed officials for not protecting villages from constant bandit assaults, journalist Bakatsine said on X, formerly Twitter, while reporting unrest in Nigeria’s North-West.
Families were searching for missing relatives as the violence had caused them to flee their homes, residents claimed.
UPDATE: Bakatsine reported that locals in Bodinga have stopped the key route in the LGA (Bodinga-Sokoto Road) to protest and demand quick government assistance following fresh bandit attacks on villages in the area. “People are saying that the attacks have led to deaths, displacements and family separations, and some are still looking for their loved ones,” he said.
Local sources identified the villages impacted as Danchadi, Dabagi, Karaje and Taƙule, where armed bandits allegedly invaded and forced families to escape. A woman displaced said her husband died in the attack.
Residents of Zango, Biri, Illela, Horo, Danbaro and adjacent communities have also fled their villages fearing more attacks.
“They came firing everywhere,” said a resident of Kyaula village, describing the carnage. We ran for our lives. “Some people were killed and some people were abducted, but I can’t confirm the number.”
“We want the government to do something, before innocent people die,” said another resident. “The entire communities have been displaced.”
Following the demonstration, top government officials, including the Speaker, Secretary to the State Government and security officers, visited the affected villages to empathise with the victims and assess the situation.
The attacks were sad, Hon. Nasiru Shehu Bobo, representing the Bodinga Federal Constituency, said adding that more security men had been dispatched to restore order.
The Sokoto State Police Command verified the event, saying that security operatives had been conducting operations in the area from Thursday afternoon till around 3am on Friday. Police Public Relations Officer DSP Ahmad Rufai said more troops had been sent to fortify security.
As of filing reports there was no official word from the state government on the attacks or on the demonstration.
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