Many Residents Feared Killed As Terrorists Overrun Sokoto Community

Not less than seven persons have been killed following a deadly attack by suspected terrorists on Ƙyara town in the Birnin Gobir Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

It was gathered that the incident occurred on Wednesday night when the attackers, said to be more than 100 in number, stormed the town in a coordinated operation.

The assailants reportedly surrounded Ƙyara from all sides, blocking major entry and exit routes before launching the violent assault on residents. According to local sources, the gunmen moved freely within the town for several hours.

At least seven people were confirmed killed during the attack, while several others sustained varying degrees of injuries. It was learnt that the deceased were buried on Thursday in accordance with Islamic rites, as families and community members mourned the victims amid heightened fear and tension in the area.

Meanwhile, several injured residents are currently receiving treatment in different hospitals, with some reported to be in critical condition. Residents further disclosed that the attack came just a day after the same group of bandits reportedly abducted about 38 people, excluding children, from Lajinge district, also within Birnin Gobir axis. The victims were said to have been taken to unknown locations.

Community members expressed deep frustration over the absence of Nigerian security forces during and after the attack. According to residents, no immediate response was recorded from security agencies within the state despite distress calls made during the assault. Instead, sources said it was security forces from the neighbouring Niger Republic who later arrived after the attackers had withdrawn. The Nigerien security operatives reportedly pursued the assailants from the other side of the border, underscoring the growing cross-border dimension of insecurity in the region.

Birnin Gobir and other parts of eastern Sokoto have witnessed repeated attacks by armed groups in recent months, with residents lamenting the increasing frequency of killings, abductions and destruction of property. As of the time of filing this report, Sokoto State authorities and security agencies had yet to issue an official statement on the attack.