A bloody weekend across Nigeria left at least 102 people dead, including security personnel, civilians, and suspected bandits, in a wave of violent incidents reported in Borno, Sokoto, Edo, and Katsina states.
Katsina: Bandits Kill Seven in Night Raid
In Katsina State, seven people were killed when armed bandits raided Magajin Wando village between 11 p.m. and midnight on Friday.
According to the Katsina State Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, the attack was initially repelled by the Community Watch Corps (CWC), a volunteer security group dedicated to protecting local communities. However, as the corps members were evacuating the injured to hospital, they were ambushed by the same bandits in what appears to be a revenge attack.
The ministry confirmed a fierce exchange of gunfire during the ambush, during which the CWC vehicle was riddled with bullets and later set ablaze. Fortunately, the corps members escaped unharmed.
Preliminary investigations suggest that several bandits were killed during the initial confrontation, which may have prompted the retaliatory ambush.
The Katsina State Government commended the CWC for its bravery and sacrifice, stating that their swift response prevented what could have been a far worse tragedy. Authorities assured that the state government is working closely with the military and police forces to track down and dismantle the criminal networks responsible for the attacks.
Sokoto: Villagers Kill 15 Bandits, Rescue Hostages
In Sokoto State, residents of Shagari and Bimasa villages in Tureta Local Government Area launched a coordinated counteroffensive against bandits who had laid siege to their communities.
In a gun battle that lasted several hours, the villagers reportedly killed 15 bandits. Eyewitnesses said the attackers, who stormed the area in large numbers, were overpowered by the coordinated self-defense efforts of the communities.
The locals also freed scores of kidnapped victims who had been held hostage in nearby forests. During the retreat, the bandits abandoned dozens of rustled cattle, which were recovered by the villagers.
The joint action by Shagari and Bimasa communities has been hailed as a turning point in the fight against banditry in the region.
“We will never allow bandits to dictate our lives again,” declared a youth leader from Shagari, reflecting the renewed hope among residents.
Community leaders have since called on the Sokoto State Government and federal authorities to reinforce security in the area to prevent possible reprisals.
Borno: Boko Haram Kills 63 in Darajamal
In Borno State, Boko Haram insurgents launched a deadly attack on Darajamal, a community near Bama, killing 63 people, including five soldiers and approximately 58 civilians.
The civilians were mostly internally displaced persons who had been resettled in Darajamal two months earlier after fleeing previous attacks.
Governor Babagana Umara Zulum visited the community on Saturday to console grieving families and community leaders. Visibly moved, he condemned the attack in the strongest terms, describing it as a brutal act against innocent people striving to rebuild their lives.
“We are here to commiserate with the people of Darajamal over what happened last night that has claimed the lives of many people. It is very sad. This community was settled a few months ago and they go about their normal activities, but unfortunately, they experienced a Boko Haram attack last night. Our visit is to commiserate with them and build their resilience,” Governor Zulum said.
Confirming the casualty figures, he added:
“At this moment, we have confirmed that 63 people lost their lives, both civilians and military, although the civilian casualties are more. Close to about 60 civilians and five soldiers lost their lives.”
Governor Zulum also stressed the urgent need to deploy the newly trained Forest Guards to support the military in protecting vulnerable communities.
“We have to take note that the numerical strength of the military is not enough to cover everywhere. So far so good, two sets of Forest Guards have been trained, therefore one of the solutions that we need to implement immediately is to deploy the trained Forest Guards to most of the locations that are vulnerable; they will protect the forest and communities,” he said.
Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan, representing Borno Central (which includes Darajamal), condemned the attack, calling it a crime against humanity. He pledged legislative support for Governor Zulum’s security initiatives.
Reports also indicate that scores of residents remain unaccounted for following the attack, with their whereabouts unknown at press time.
Edo: Gunmen Kill Eight NSCDC Officers, Abduct Foreigners
In Edo State, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) is mourning eight of its personnel killed in an ambush by suspected kidnappers at Okpella, Edo State, Nigeria’s South-south.
The attack, which lasted for about three hours on Friday night, also left four NSCDC officers critically injured, one Chinese abducted, and four Chinese rescued unhurt.
In a statement on Saturday by its national Public Relations Officer, Afolabi Babawale, the NSCDC said that the operatives were deployed to provide security for expatriates attached to the BUA Cement Company.
The corps said that the team’s convoy was ambushed by gunmen during a routine patrol
National Concern
From Boko Haram insurgents in the northeast, to banditry in the northwest, and targeted attacks on security operatives in the south, the weekend’s bloodshed underscores the worsening security crisis facing Nigeria.
