No fewer than eight people have been confirmed dead from a brutal attack by suspected bandits in two farming communities in the Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

According to the spokesperson of the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmed Rufai, on Thursday, the attack also left one person injured.

Rufai said that the victims were killed during a coordinated assault on Baidi and Sabiyo villages by suspected Lakurawa bandits on Tuesday afternoon.

“Eight persons were confirmed dead, while one injured victim is currently receiving treatment at the hospital,” he stated.

Local sources revealed that the attackers, armed with sophisticated weapons and moving on foot and motorcycles, first struck Baidi village, where they shot and injured a resident.

“They later advanced to Sabiyo village, where they ambushed farmers working on their farmlands, killing six of them on the spot.

“Among the victims was Aminu Sama’ila, who sustained gunshot wounds to the neck and chest and was evacuated to the Specialist Hospital Sokoto,” an eyewitness said.

The source added that another farmer, Usman Sama’ila, remains missing, with ongoing search efforts by security personnel and community volunteers.

Eyewitness accounts indicate that the assailants opened fire indiscriminately, causing panic among villagers and forcing many to flee.

Security agencies have launched a manhunt for the attackers. Troops of Operation Fansan Yanma, police tactical teams from Gidan-Madi Division, and local vigilante groups have intensified patrols around forest corridors and border routes linking Nigeria and the Niger Republic.

The latest attack adds to a disturbing pattern of violence in Sokoto’s border communities, especially during the crucial planting season. Community leaders fear the growing insecurity could worsen food shortages and displace large numbers of rural dwellers.

Authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant and assist security agencies with credible information as efforts to restore peace in the area continue.