Gunmen Strike Tofa in Sokoto, Residents Killed and Abducted

Suspected gunmen have killed some residents and abducted others in Tofa, Rabah Local Government Area of Sokoto State. This happened about a week after soldiers said they stopped armed men heading to another community in the area.

The attackers stormed Tofa between Sunday night and Monday morning. They shot at residents, took others away, and stole livestock.

As of early Tuesday, the total number of people killed and taken was still unclear. Different reports gave conflicting numbers.

Daily Trust mentioned that seven people were killed and 35 residents were initially taken. It also said eight people later returned, leaving 27 still in captivity.

The Punch reported that at least 10 people were killed and between 38 and 40 were abducted. This report also mentioned that the numbers had not been confirmed independently.

Ahmad Rufai, the spokesperson for the Sokoto State Police Command, confirmed the attack but said they were still gathering details.

PREMIUM TIMES reached out to Mr Rufai for the latest numbers on casualties and abducted individuals. We were still waiting for his response when this report was being prepared.

Both Daily Trust and The Punch also reported that livestock were stolen during the attack.

The Tofa attack comes after a series of violent incidents and security operations in Rabah since June.

On June 16, PREMIUM TIMES reported that four farmers were killed and at least 12 others were taken while working on their farmland in Ghandi District.

In late July, police and soldiers confronted armed men in Maikujera, another community in Rabah close to the Zamfara border. The police said they responded to a distress call after armed men entered the community with abducted residents and stole livestock.

The Punch reported that the police rescued 32 abducted individuals during that operation.

During the first weekend of August, PREMIUM TIMES noted that attacks in Ghandi and Maikujera were part of incidents in Rabah and Sabon Birni local government areas where at least 16 people were feared dead.

On August 30, troops from Sector 2, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, said they stopped armed men heading towards Ghandi. Lieutenant Colonel Olaniyi Osoba, Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, said troops acted on intelligence about the armed men and set up around Ghandi Bridge.

The military said troops engaged the men and forced them to retreat. They also recovered an AK-47 rifle, a loaded magazine, and more ammunition. Search operations continued after that.

Also on August 30, suspected bandits attacked farmers in Ghandi. The Punch reported that police confirmed eight farmers were killed and five others injured.

There is no evidence that the armed men stopped by troops near Ghandi were the same ones who attacked Tofa a week later.

When PREMIUM TIMES contacted Mr Osoba about the military's actions regarding the Tofa attack, he said he could not give details over the phone for security reasons. He invited the reporter to the 8 Division headquarters in Sokoto for a face-to-face discussion.

The Tofa attack is the latest incident in Rabah following killings, abductions, and security operations reported in Ghandi and Maikujera since June. The police had not provided a final count of those killed and abducted in Tofa at the time of this report.