At least 39 people have been killed, 37 abducted and 19 communities displaced following a series of bandit attacks on Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State, according to residents.

The latest attack, which reportedly lasted about six hours—from 9:00 p.m. on Monday to 3:00 a.m. on Tuesday—has sparked renewed outrage among residents, who accused the Federal Government and northern political leaders of failing to adequately protect vulnerable communities.

Speaking to LEADERSHIP, a resident, Munir Auwal, said the assailants unleashed terror on several villages, leaving dozens dead, scores abducted and forcing thousands to flee their homes.

The violence also triggered another tragedy as villagers attempted to escape the attack across a river.

A local canoe operator, Bala Saidu, said overcrowded boats carrying fleeing residents capsized, resulting in multiple drownings.

According to him, about 25 people—mostly women and children—were thrown into the water, with seven rescued alive while 18 others drowned. Families were still searching for missing relatives as of Tuesday.

Saidu lamented that despite alerting security personnel about the attack, no reinforcements arrived before the violence ended.

Another resident, who identified himself only as Maikifi, said he fled with dozens of others to Sokoto metropolis after his village was overrun.

“We have never witnessed such a terrifying attack. About 40 of us escaped and are now taking refuge with relatives in Sokoto,” he said.

He identified some of those killed as Kabiru Mallam Tanimu, Ayuba Mallam Hashim and Yakubu Muazu, adding that several others remain unaccounted for.

Residents said the attacks forced the evacuation of 19 communities, including Borai, Tsululu, Garin Tudu, Bukka Hamsin, Turkawa, Rumbukawa, Dutsin Na Umma, Zangon Muazu, Arawa, Kuru, Zangon Mallam, Mai Hurde, Zugun, Gidan Na Birni, Mashaya and Marina.

The displaced residents appealed to both the Federal Government and the Sokoto State Government to deploy more security personnel and Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) to reclaim the affected communities and restore normalcy.

Chairman of Sabon Birni Local Government Area, Ayuba Hashimu, confirmed that the attacks and boat mishap occurred but said the casualty figures had yet to be independently verified.

“The incidents indeed happened, but I was not there personally. We need to verify the figures before making an official confirmation,” he said, adding that access to the affected communities remains highly dangerous.

The spokesperson for the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmad Rufai, also confirmed the attack and said additional security personnel had been deployed to the area to restore peace and prevent further attacks.

Meanwhile, the Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, described the absence of security operatives during the attack as a serious failure of government.

He said the tragedy reflected poor security deployment and criticised the concentration of security personnel around VIPs instead of vulnerable communities facing persistent attacks.

Rafsanjani also faulted northern governors, senators and members of the House of Representatives for failing to exert sufficient pressure on the Federal Government to tackle worsening insecurity across the region.

He urged political leaders across northern Nigeria to unite in demanding stronger action against banditry, warning that communities in Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Nasarawa, Benue, Plateau, Kwara and Kogi states continue to bear the brunt of escalating violence.