Crime

Cross-Border Bandits Kill Eight Farmers, Steal 1,260 Livestock in Gudu Community

Published by Tope Fakinlede on August 4th, 2024.

Cross-Border Bandits Kill Eight Farmers, Steal 1,260 Livestock in Gudu Community

Bandits crossing from neighboring countries have attacked a farming community in Gudu Local Government Area of Sokoto State, resulting in the deaths of eight farmers last Friday.

The bandits, reportedly entering Nigeria from Mali, also stole over 1,260 livestock, including 260 cows and 1,000 sheep and goats from the Gudu community.

Alhaji Umar Maikano Balle, Sole Administrator of the Local Government Area, shared the news on VOA Hausa Service’s “Tubalin Tsaro” program. He explained that the bandits had first attempted to damage an oil pipeline from Niger in a town called Mantsaika but were thwarted by Nigerien security forces. This led them to return to Gudu and launch their attack.

Balle confirmed that the bandits killed four farmers and severely injured two others, one of whom later died in the hospital. The attack also extended to Karfen Sarki village on Wednesday night, where eight farmers were killed—five of whom were members of the Sokoto Community Guards and three were local villagers.

He noted that security forces were alerted about the bandits’ arrival in a Gudu forest on Thursday but faced difficulties reaching the area due to heavy rainfall and muddy conditions, which allowed the bandits to escape.

Balle added that these bandits are not new to the region; similar attacks have occurred previously. He recalled that from 2017 to 2018, the bandits lived peacefully with the local population before the recent escalation in violence. The government has responded by increasing security measures, including deploying military personnel to Balle town to maintain order.

Security Analyst Comrade Basharu Altine Guyawa addressed concerns about the influx of Malians into Nigeria, noting that such events are unfortunately not surprising given the region’s history of cross-border banditry and jihadist activities.