At least eight farmers were killed and five others injured when armed bandits attacked Gandi community in Rabah Local Government Area of Sokoto State on Sunday afternoon.
The attackers reportedly stormed the farming community around 3:00 p.m., opening fire on residents and sending farmers fleeing for safety.
A local source said the victims appeared to have been deliberately targeted in what residents believe was a reprisal attack following recent security operations against bandits in the area.
“The bandits came around 3:00 p.m. and started shooting at people. No fewer than eight farmers were killed, while at least five others sustained gunshot injuries,” the source said.
According to the source, security agencies had in recent days intensified operations against armed groups operating around Rabah, with scores of suspected bandits reportedly killed.
The operations were said to have forced some members of the groups to abandon hideouts and operational routes in the area.
Residents believe Sunday’s assault was carried out in response to those losses, with the attackers turning their attention to a vulnerable farming community.
“We believe this was a retaliatory attack because some members of the group were killed by security personnel in the last few days,” the source said.
The latest violence has heightened fears among residents of Gandi and surrounding communities, particularly farmers who depend on access to their fields for their livelihoods.
Rabah and neighbouring areas have faced persistent security challenges linked to armed groups, with rural communities often exposed to attacks, abductions and disruptions to agricultural activities.
The renewed violence also highlights the difficulties facing security agencies as they intensify offensive operations against bandit groups. While such operations may weaken criminal networks, residents fear that surviving fighters could retaliate against communities they perceive as vulnerable or supportive of government forces.
The development came shortly after security agencies reportedly stepped up clearance operations in Rabah Local Government Area, targeting bandit camps and routes used by the groups.
The spokesman for the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmed Rufai, confirmed that the command was aware of the attack when contacted on Sunday evening.
However, he said officers were still gathering information on the incident and could not immediately provide further details.
The killings are expected to increase pressure on security agencies to sustain operations against armed groups while strengthening protection for farming communities vulnerable to reprisals.
For residents of Gandi, the attack has brought renewed uncertainty to an area where insecurity already threatens both lives and livelihoods.
With the farming season underway, continued attacks could further discourage farmers from accessing their fields, potentially worsening the economic consequences of insecurity in the affected communities.
