Sokoto

Tarah community in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State came under heavy attack on Tuesday night as armed bandits invaded the village, abducting nine residents and injuring one person. According to local sources, the gunmen stormed the community shortly after members of the local vigilante group were redeployed to the neighbouring Katsira area, leaving Tarah exposed. Residents said the sudden security gap emboldened the attackers, who arrived in large numbers and moved swiftly. Read Also: Gunmen Abduct Four Rice Farmers in Kwara However, youths in the area mobilised and confronted the bandits, a move locals believe prevented what could have been a mass abduction. The incident has heightened tension across the community, with residents expressing fear that they remain vulnerable despite ongoing security operations in Sabon Birni and surrounding areas. (Platinum Post)

The last surviving wife of Nigeria’s first democratically elected President, Hajiya Sutura Shehu Shagari, has passed away. Her death was confirmed in a statement signed by Captain Bala Muhammad Shagari, son of the late President, who announced that Hajiya Sutura died on Monday at about 3:00 PM. Captain Bala described his late mother as a woman of humility, trustworthiness, and strong moral values, noting that she lived a life devoted to family and faith. Read Also: Ganduje Visits Takai, Bandirawo Families on Condolence in Kano Hajiya Sutura was the last surviving spouse of late President Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari, who served as Nigeria’s leader from 1979 to 1983. The former President passed away on December 28, 2018, at the age of 93. Her death marks the end of an era in the Shagari family and Nigeria’s First Republic political legacy. (Nigerian Tracker)

Panic-stricken residents of Zalla Bango in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State have suffered fresh tragedy after a boat carrying fleeing villagers capsized, leaving several feared dead. Eyewitnesses said most of the victims were women who attempted to cross the water on Thursday evening, shortly after Maghrib prayers, in a desperate bid to escape an anticipated bandit raid. “Many residents have resorted to fleeing their communities, crossing over the water to areas perceived as safer and less accessible to the bandits,” a local source explained. Read Also: Bandit Kingpin Frees 40 Kidnap Victims in Katsina, Warns of Return to Violence The ill-fated boat reportedly struck the edge of a collapsed culvert along the Goronyo–Sabon Birni road before it cracked and sank. Residents lamented that this was not the first such tragedy in the area this year, noting that persistent insecurity has forced villagers into repeated risky crossings. Casualty figures remain unclear, though reports suggest between six and 12 lives may have been lost. Chairman of Sabon Birni Local Government, Alhaji Ayuba Hashimu, confirmed the incident but stressed that verification was ongoing. “As at this morning, only one body – that of a woman – has been recovered from the water,” he said. Hashimu, who visited the scene, explained that the disaster struck as villagers scrambled to escape yet another bandit attack. “The boat hit the edge of a collapsed culvert, which led to its breaking and eventual sinking. We are doing everything we can to rescue survivors and retrieve the bodies of the deceased,” he added. The chairman revealed that motorised boats and life jackets distributed by the Sokoto State Government had reached Sabon Birni only a day before the tragedy. The area has faced repeated incidents in recent weeks. Last month, six people drowned in Garin Faji, another community in Sabon Birni, while fleeing armed men. Meanwhile, bandits also attacked Kwanar Kimba village earlier in the week, killing six people. Sokoto State lawmaker representing the constituency, Sa’idu Ibrahim, confirmed the assault. “Residents of the village tried to resist the attack, which led to a confrontation with the armed men. Unfortunately, six people were killed before the attackers fled. I just returned from the village, where I went to sympathise with the grieving families,” he said. (Platinum Post)

The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has confirmed that six people died and three others remain missing after a boat accident in the Faji community of Sabon Birni Local Government Area, Sokoto State. NIWA’s Area Manager in Sokoto, Bala Bello, told journalists on Sunday that the mishap, which occurred on August 22, was caused by negligence, overloading, and violations of safety rules. He said 19 passengers were rescued alive, while search and rescue operations were ongoing to find the missing persons. Read Also: OSN Annual Conference Opens with Free Cataract Surgeries in Kano According to Bello, a joint inspection team involving NIWA, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), and the Red Cross confirmed the casualty figures during a visit to the affected community. He added that NIWA has continued to engage riverine communities on safety measures, including strict adherence to guidelines and the use of life jackets. The tragedy came barely five days after another boat mishap claimed four lives at Kojiyo village in Goronyo Local Government Area of the state. In that incident, 41 passengers were rescued while five others were declared missing after their boat capsized along the Sokoto Rima River.