Bandits Wreak Havoc in Sokoto, Killing 17 in Dangulbi Community

A devastating attack by bandits has left at least 17 people dead in Dangulbi community, Tureta Local Government Area of Sokoto State. The incident occurred on Sunday, May 31, 2026, when the bandits, armed with sophisticated weapons and riding on about 150 motorcycles, stormed the community, opening fire on villagers and looting shops. According to residents, the attackers had earlier departed from Bagega village in Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara State, which is believed to be one of their major hideouts. They moved through Barayar Zaki in neighbouring Bukkuyum Local Government Area before arriving at Gizazza village, where they spent the night before launching the attack. A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the bandits entered Dangulbi village between 10am and 11am on Sunday and immediately began shooting indiscriminately. 'We received information about their movement on Saturday. They came from Bagega and passed through Barayar Zaki before reaching Gizazza. Usually, whenever they want to attack our communities, they spend the night there and move in the following morning,' he said. The source added that 17 persons were killed during the attack, including seven Sallah visitors from Adarawa, Gummi LGA of Zamfara state, and two others from Gidan Gambo in Shagari Local Government Area. The resident alleged that the attackers remained in the community for several hours after the killings and prevented residents from conducting funeral rites for the victims. 'They stayed in the village and nobody could come out to bury the dead bodies. It was only after about 7pm when they finally left that residents returned. Funeral prayers for the victims were eventually conducted after 9:30pm,' he said. The resident further alleged that the bandits looted about 20 shops and carted away goods, while many residents have since abandoned their homes and sought refuge in neighbouring communities and local government areas. After leaving Dangulbi on Sunday evening, the attackers reportedly moved through other nearby communities, including Kukoki and Birnin Magaji, where they abducted some residents. The source alleged that the bandits told the captives they would not release them unless petrol was provided for their motorcycles. However, a rainstorm that occurred on Sunday night created an opportunity for the abductees to escape from their captors. The resident appealed to both the federal and Sokoto State governments to urgently intervene and deploy more security personnel to the area. 'We have been suffering repeated attacks for a long time, yet we hardly get the support we need. If urgent action is not taken, our people may not even be able to go to their farms this season,' he said. Another resident, who also requested anonymity, attributed part of the security challenges facing the area to poor road infrastructure. He said the absence of accessible roads often delays security responses and makes life difficult for residents. 'We are located deep inside the forest and we do not have good roads. In fact, we are closer to Bukkuyum, Gummi and Shagari than to our local government headquarters in Tureta. We appeal to the government to construct roads in this area. Better roads will help security personnel respond faster and will also improve the lives of residents,' he said.