Faced with relentless banditry and what they describe as government inaction, residents of Bimasa in Tureta Local Government Area of Sokoto State have taken their fate into their own hands. The villagers stormed a forest hideout of the criminals, engaged them in a fierce battle, and killed more than 10 bandits.
Local sources confirmed that the residents, tired of waiting for security reinforcements, tracked the bandits and confronted them directly. In the process, they freed kidnapped relatives, recovered rustled livestock, and brought back one captured bandit alive to the community.
Community leaders praised the courage of the residents but warned of the likelihood of reprisal attacks, urging government and security agencies to urgently reinforce community safety.
Chairman of Tureta Local Government, Aliyu Tureta, confirmed the incident but gave a different figure, stating that six bandits were killed and several stolen cattle recovered.
For months, Tureta has been a hotbed of violent attacks, leaving scores dead, many abducted, and whole villages displaced. Government promises of stronger security have done little to reassure residents who say they have been left to defend themselves.
Only recently, hundreds of locals staged a protest, demanding urgent intervention. Frustrated youths openly threatened to take up arms in self-defence if authorities failed to provide protection.
