Bandits Kill 4 Farmers, Abduct 12 in Sokoto; Troops Rescue 7

Armed bandits attacked farmland in Gandi District, Rabah Local Government Area of Sokoto State, killing four farmers and abducting 12 others, local officials said.

The attack occurred in the mid-morning hours when farmers were working on their fields, according to residents who spoke to Daily Trust.

Troops of Operation Fansan Yamma, stationed at a Forward Operating Base in Gandi, were alerted and launched a rescue operation that freed seven of the kidnapped victims and recovered stolen motorcycles, the military confirmed.

The fate of the remaining five abducted persons was not immediately confirmed. No group claimed responsibility for the attack.

A police spokesperson in Sokoto said he was not yet aware of the incident when contacted by journalists.

Rabah LGA has experienced repeated bandit attacks in recent months as armed groups target farming communities across northwestern Nigeria.

Banditry in Zamfara, Sokoto, and Katsina states has displaced thousands of farmers and disrupted agricultural activity in one of Nigeria’s key food-producing corridors.

The military said patrols in the area had been intensified following the incident.

Sources: Daily Trust, Vanguard News