Rising banditry in Sokoto State’s Wurno Local Government Area has forced thousands of residents to flee their homes nightly for the safety of Achida town.
Residents of Wurno Local Government Area in Sokoto State are increasingly abandoning their homes at night due to a surge in bandit attacks, according to Council Chairman Alhaji Abba Isa Sadiq Achida. Speaking to journalists in Sokoto, Achida revealed that the security situation has deteriorated to the point where attacks occur almost daily, leaving more than 100 residents currently in captivity. “The people no longer sleep with their two eyes closed,” he stated, noting that thousands of displaced persons now troop to Achida town every evening to seek refuge in primary schools and open spaces before returning to their communities at daybreak.
The chairman lamented the deep psychological toll on the population and highlighted the role of suspected informants who aid attackers in targeting vulnerable areas. He reported that bandits have become bold enough to block major roads at night, particularly during market days in Achida and Goronyo, stifling local commerce and movement. Despite these challenges, Achida noted that communities have begun to fight back by forming vigilante groups and sharing intelligence with security agencies, adding, “You can imagine the psychological and emotional trauma they face daily.”
In response to the crisis, Achida called for urgent federal and state interventions, specifically requesting the establishment of a military base in Achida and the creation of additional, well-equipped police divisions in Kwargaba, Chacho, and other flashpoints. While the council has begun renovating the Achida Police Outpost, the chairman stressed that the current force is understaffed. Sokoto State Commissioner of Police, Hayatu Hassan Shaffa, has acknowledged the gravity of the situation, assuring the public that the command is intensifying efforts. “We are not handling the issue lightly. More personnel and resources will be deployed to restore normalcy,” Shaffa said.
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