Suspected Bandits Kill Two Farmers In Sokoto Community

Two farmers have been reportedly killed in a fresh attack by suspected bandits in Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

The attack sparked renewed concerns over the safety of farming communities as residents begin this year’s cultivation season.

The victims were said to have been attacked while working on their farms in an area between Gezoji and Karugga villages, where gunmen reportedly opened fire before fleeing the scene.

According to the Coordinator of the Movement for Social Justice and a Sokoto-based security commentator, Basharu Altine Guyawa, the latest attack signals the beginning of another wave of violence against farmers if urgent preventive measures are not taken.

Guyawa said that the attackers are believed to be members of the armed group led by notorious bandit leader Bello Turji, whom he alleged has been operating around communities in the Isa axis.

“We have repeatedly warned residents that Bello Turji and his fighters are operating close to these communities, particularly around the Gezoji area. Unfortunately, today’s attack has validated those concerns,” he said.

“The assailants invaded the farming area, located less than two kilometres from nearby settlements, and opened fire on farmers working in their fields, killing two people”

He blamed the recurring attacks on inadequate community vigilance, arguing that the absence of organised local surveillance has made it easier for armed groups to infiltrate farming communities.

“The lack of unity and coordinated community security is one of the reasons these criminals continue to enter villages and farmlands to attack innocent people,” he added.

He recalled that communities in Isa, Sabon Birni and other parts of eastern Sokoto State have endured repeated attacks on farmers during the rainy season for more than a decade, with many residents abandoning their farms because of persistent insecurity.

While acknowledging ongoing military operations in the region, he noted that security agencies alone cannot provide round-the-clock protection for every farming settlement due to limited personnel and operational resources.

He urged communities to complement the efforts of security agencies by establishing local surveillance teams and effective early-warning systems capable of alerting residents whenever suspicious movements are noticed.

“I call on farmers across Isa, Sabon Birni and the entire eastern Sokoto to organise community watch groups and strengthen vigilance around their villages”

Communities should also adopt simple warning mechanisms, including alarm systems, to quickly alert residents whenever armed men are sighted,” he said.