Woman Assaulted as Bandits Attack Dankakah Community in Sokoto
Tragedy struck Dankakah community in Gatawa District, Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State, on Tuesday night when armed bandits launched a violent attack, reportedly assaulting a young woman and terrorizing residents.
According to eyewitness accounts, the victim was returning from Unguwar Samada when she was intercepted and assaulted by a group of eight armed men believed to be part of the gang that has been operating in the area.
Residents said the incident has left the community in shock and fear, as similar attacks have become increasingly frequent in recent months, with little to no response from security agencies.
“This is not the first time these criminals are attacking. They come almost every week stealing, harassing, and injuring people. Now, our women and girls are no longer safe,” a local youth leader said.
Community members lamented that despite repeated reports to authorities, there has been no meaningful intervention to curb the attacks.
They appealed to the Sokoto State Government and federal security agencies to deploy more personnel to the area and intensify patrols across rural communities in Sabon Birni.
A traditional leader in Gatawa District, who spoke on condition of anonymity, called for urgent government intervention to prevent further breakdown of security in the region.
“Our people are living in fear. We need immediate action before things get worse,” he said.
Efforts to reach the Sokoto State Police Command for official comment were unsuccessful as of press time. However, local sources said security operatives had begun investigations into the incident.
Sabon Birni, located in eastern Sokoto State, has been one of the flashpoints of banditry in the North-West, with recurring attacks on villages, kidnappings, and destruction of property forcing many residents to flee their homes in recent years.
Community leaders and rights groups are calling for stronger protection mechanisms, particularly for women and girls, who are increasingly vulnerable to violence in the region.
