Hundreds of residents from Isa and Sabon Birnin area of Sokoto state had been fleeing their homes as a result of constant attacks by suspected armed bandits.
They have also lamented that despite the brutality led by these bandits, they have constantly ensured that they have stopped the locals from going to the farms for their agricultural activities.
Yar Bulutu, Gomozo and Kwatsal have been badly affected by this negative development emanating from the armed bandit attacks.
They have suffered various armed bandit attacks as well hence hundreds of their loved ones were Abducted, and fines running into millions have been enforced on them.
Currently, houses in these villages have become deserted as occupants fled living behind their animals due to the fear of the bandits.
Majority of those that fled are taking refuge at the neighboring Niger Republic which they considered safer than their localities.
“Residents of more than twenty communities in Isa local government and Sabon Birnin were forced to desert their homes due to constant attacks. Occasionally you will be in your farm the next you will see the bandits taking over your surroundings and either abduct you or fire a shot and kill you” a source added.
“There was a time when they came to Keke village, attacked one of the influential person in the village and slaughtered him to death, and they told the people that if the fines enforced on them are not paid they will slaughter everyone in the village”.
On the availability of the security agencies, the source explained that “yes there are concernments of security agencies deployed in Isa but whenever they are called during bandit attacks they may either not come or arrive after the bandits have perpetuated their heinous crimes and left”.
Another source explained that, even those that insisted on going to their farms, they do so with the aid of the local vigilante groups who supported them using arms.
