Sokoto State in Northwest Nigeria is notorious for kidnapping and banditry activities
At least six people have been killed, seven others abducted and hundreds of cattle stolen after armed terrorists attacked Girkau village in Kebbe Local Government Area of Sokoto State, just two days before the expiry of a seven-day ultimatum demanding a ₦40 million security levy from residents.
The Thursday attack on Girkau, located in Sokoto South Senatorial District, has heightened fears among residents who say the terrorists are carrying out their threat to attack the area if the money is not paid.
The latest assault came barely a week after suspected terrorists reportedly killed 33 people and rustled hundreds of livestock in Ngushi village, also in Kebbe Local Government Area.
Reacting to the worsening security situation, a former member of the Sokoto State House of Assembly and Mainan Kebbe, Hon. Abubakar Bello Babangida, said almost all the 10 wards in Kebbe Local Government have suffered repeated attacks by armed groups.
He listed Magogi, Jabga, Zugu, Ingiri, Umbutu, Kwandi, Maikurfuna, Tsangi, Sabon Birni, Rafin Gora, Pukku, Dukura and Kuchi among communities living in constant fear of fresh attacks.
Babangida, who is also the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate for the 2027 State House of Assembly election, appealed to both the Federal and Sokoto State governments to urgently intervene.
“I am appealing to the State and Federal government as well as everybody to take the issue of insecurity serious. Government must understand that it’s first and primary responsibility is to ensure the protection of the lives and properties of it’s citizenry.
“With the consistencies of attacks in villages of Kebbe local government, if no urgent action is taken to halt the ugly development, the terrorists are, from all indications working towards making Kebbe a history.”
Speaking on the ₦40 million demand by the terrorists, Babangida said residents have no means of raising such a huge amount and many families have already fled their homes.
“With barely 2 days left, honestly, we cannot raise such an amount. And as we speak now, most of the people are fleeing with their families to Sokoto metropolis while others to neighbouring Jega and Kebbi state towns for shelter.
“As we speak, I have over 120 people including children and women who ran away for Kebbe which infer everyday in my house right now.
“Government at all levels should please try and intervene before the expiration of the 7 day ultimatum which is this week Sunday so that our once beautiful and agricultural active communities does not become history as the terrorists had warned.”
Efforts to get comments from the Chairman of Kebbe Local Government, Hon. Garba Kuchi, and the council secretary, Shamsu Mai’akwai, were unsuccessful as they neither answered phone calls nor responded to text messages before this report was filed.
Earlier, the spokesperson of the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmed Rufa’i, had assured residents that police officers, working with other security agencies, were on high alert following reports of the terrorists’ ultimatum.
