Bandits attacks’ protest: Residents of Bodinga block Sokoto-Jega- Yauri road
From Bashir Rabe Mani in Sokoto
There was palpable tension on Friday as the residents of Bodinga town, Bodinga Local Government Area of of Sokoto State blocked the ever-busy Sokoto-Jeha- Yauri Federal Highway.
Our Correspondent in Sokoto reports that the residents took to the streets in protest of recurring renewed bandits’ attacks that had recently claimed scores of lives, displaced residents and forced several communities to flee their homes.
The protesters blocked the Sokoto–Jega–Yauri highway, a major road linking Sokoto with Kebbi State, Niger State and other parts of the country, demanding urgent government action to end the persistent insecurity in the area.
They set tyres and logs ablaze on the highway, bringing traffic to a standstill for hours.
During the protest, some vehicles, including a bus belonging to the Kebbi State Transport Authority (KSTA), were reportedly vandalised before security operatives dispersed the crowd and reopened the road.
Residents said the demonstration followed coordinated attacks by armed bandits on Thursday on several villages in Bodinga LGA, during which an unspecified number of people were reportedly killed while many others fled for safety.
A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the protest was organised to draw the government’s attention to the worsening security situation.
“We want the government to act before more innocent people are killed. Entire communities have been displaced. If you visit schools and the new market in Bodinga, you will see families who have abandoned their villages because of the attacks,” he said.
A visit to one of the temporary shelters showed displaced residents taking refuge after fleeing their communities.
One of them, from Qyaula village, said the attackers invaded the community firing indiscriminately.
“They came shooting everywhere. We escaped to save our lives. Some people were killed while others were abducted, but I cannot confirm the exact number,” he said.
Another resident identified the affected communities as Qyaula, Keloji, Chohi Takule, Kulodo and Kwamtsi villages.
According to him, the attackers stormed the villages around 2 p.m. on Thursday and continued their assault until the early hours of Friday.
“They operated for hours without resistance. Many people were killed, while several others fled into neighbouring communities,” he said.
The latest attacks underscore the growing insecurity in parts of Sokoto State, where communities have continued to suffer recurring bandit raids, killings, kidnappings and mass displacement despite ongoing security operations.
Following the protest, senior government officials, including the Speaker of the Sokoto State House of Assembly, Rt.- Hon. Tukur Bala Bodinga; the member representing Bodinga, Dange-Shuni and Tureta Federal Constituency, Hon. Nasiru Shehu Bobo; the Secretary to the State Government, Muhammad Bello Sifawa; the Chairman of Bodinga Local Government Area; the District Head; and security chiefs visited the area to sympathise with victims and assess the situation.
Speaking briefly to journalists, Rep. Nasiru Shehu Bobo described the attacks as unfortunate and said additional security personnel had been deployed to restore peace in the affected communities.
He said he would make further comments after attending the funeral prayers for those killed.
The Police Public Relations Officer in Sokoto State, DSP Ahmad Rufai, confirmed the incident, saying security operatives had been conducting operations in the area from Thursday afternoon until about 3 a.m. on Friday.
He added that more personnel had been deployed to restore normalcy, reopen the highway and strengthen security across the affected communities.
