Sokoto Residents Cry Out Amid Killings

Residents of Kebbe Local Government Area in Sokoto State have appealed to the federal government to permit them to bear arms for self-defence. Their plea follows a surge in attacks by the Lakurawa bandit group, which has left many dead and entire communities living in constant fear. The Sokoto residents cry out for urgent intervention as the violence escalates across the region.

Speaking at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) secretariat in Sokoto on Saturday, community leader Alhaji Adamu Haruna Kebbe described the situation as unbearable. He said repeated assaults have devastated families, forced many from their homes, and shattered local economies.

“We can no longer sleep with our eyes closed,” Haruna said. “Our people are being killed almost daily, and the government has abandoned us to our fate.” He accused state authorities of failing to provide adequate support to community security groups or even assess the extent of the crisis.

Calls for Empowerment and Protection

Community leaders have called for direct federal allocations to local governments, enabling them to fund and equip local security volunteers. According to them, empowering communities would strengthen defences against bandits and reduce the rate of killings. They insist that waiting for state-level responses has proven ineffective.

They also warned that the situation in Sokoto could worsen if immediate steps are not taken. “If the government cannot protect us, it should allow us to protect ourselves,” one leader said. Residents argue that granting communities the right to self-defence could deter further assaults and restore a sense of safety.

Deepening Insecurity in Sokoto

Sokoto has experienced repeated waves of violence in recent months. Groups like the Lakurawas and factions linked to Bello Turji have terrorized several local government areas, including Kebbe, Isa, and Sabon Birni. Villages have been attacked, livestock stolen, and homes burned down, leaving hundreds displaced.

Despite security deployments, locals say the government’s response remains slow and inadequate. The lack of visible protection has forced many to consider forming armed vigilante units. However, security experts caution that arming civilians could lead to unintended consequences, including misuse of weapons and escalation of violence.

Analyst Bala Murtala noted that the growing demand for self-defence reflects declining confidence in official protection. “When citizens begin to lose faith in state institutions, they look for alternative means of survival,” he explained.

A Desperate Plea

The affected communities have vowed not to remain passive as bandits continue to destroy homes and livelihoods. They are urging the federal government to step up security operations in the northwest or authorize trained local units to defend their villages.

For now, residents say they have only two choices — either to be armed or to perish. Their cries echo across Nigeria’s troubled northern region, where banditry, kidnappings, and rural terror have become a daily reality.

The Sokoto residents cry out with one message: they will no longer wait silently as bandits claim more lives. They demand protection, empowerment, and justice before their communities are erased by violence.