Just days after troops claimed to have foiled an armed group's advance on a nearby community, suspected bandits have attacked Tofa village in Rabah Local Government Area of Sokoto State. The raid, which began late Sunday night and stretched into the early hours of Monday, saw the attackers killing residents, abducting others, and making off with livestock. The full extent of the carnage is still being pieced together, with conflicting reports emerging about the number of casualties and abductions.
Sources like Daily Trust suggest at least seven people were killed and 35 initially taken. However, eight of those abducted later managed to return, leaving 27 still in captivity according to this report. The Punch paints a grimmer picture, reporting at least 10 fatalities and between 38 and 40 people abducted. Officials have yet to independently verify these figures. Ahmad Rufai, the spokesperson for the Sokoto State Police Command, confirmed the attack but stated that the command was still gathering details.
PREMIUM TIMES had reached out for an updated figure, but a response was pending at the time of filing.
This isn't the first time Rabah Local Government has faced such brutality. The Tofa attack follows a string of violent incidents and security operations in the area since June. Back on June 16, four farmers were killed and at least 12 others abducted while they were working on their farms in the Ghandi District. Later, in late July, police and soldiers clashed with armed men in Maikujera, another Rabah community bordering Zamfara State. In that instance, security forces responded to a distress call and managed to rescue 32 abducted individuals, according to The Punch.
The early days of August also saw continued violence, with reports from PREMIUM TIMES indicating at least 16 people feared dead from attacks in Ghandi and Maikujera, as well as other areas within Rabah and Sabon Birni local government areas. Just on August 30, troops from Sector 2, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, announced they had intercepted armed men marching towards Ghandi. Lieutenant Colonel Olaniyi Osoba, the Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for the 8 Division, stated that the troops acted on credible intelligence, deployed around Ghandi Bridge, engaged the attackers, and forced them to retreat. An AK-47 rifle, a loaded magazine, and ammunition were recovered, and a search operation continued afterward.
But even on that same August 30, farmers in Ghandi were attacked. The Punch reported the police confirming that eight farmers were killed and five others injured in that incident. It's important to note there's no direct evidence linking the group intercepted by the military near Ghandi to the Tofa attack a week later. When asked about the military's response to the Tofa incident, Lieutenant Colonel Osoba mentioned that he couldn't share details over the phone due to operational security and invited the reporter to the 8 Division headquarters in Sokoto for a personal discussion.
The violence isn't confined to Rabah. Other parts of Sokoto State have also seen recent attacks. In Kebbe Local Government Area, the police confirmed on September 4 that five people were killed and three injured during raids on Girkau and nearby villages. These attacks followed reports of suspected bandits demanding a hefty ₦40 million levy from residents of Kebbe town, with threats of further violence if the demand wasn't met.
Livestock rustling was also a significant feature of the Tofa attack, with reports from Daily Trust and The Punch detailing stolen animals. The situation in Tofa marks the latest chapter in the ongoing security crisis in Rabah, adding to the killings and abductions that have troubled communities like Ghandi and Maikujera since June.