Bloody Weekend: 102 Killed in Borno, Sokoto, Katsina, and Edo

A series of violent incidents across Nigeria has left at least 102 people dead, including security personnel and suspected bandits, in Borno, Sokoto, Katsina, and Edo states.

In Katsina State, seven people were killed when armed bandits raided Magajin Wando village. The attack was initially repelled by the Community Watch Corps (CWC), but the bandits ambushed them later, setting their vehicle ablaze. Fortunately, the corps members escaped unharmed.

In Sokoto State, residents of Shagari and Bimasa villages launched a coordinated counteroffensive against bandits, killing 15 and rescuing scores of kidnapped victims. The villagers also recovered dozens of rustled cattle.

Meanwhile, in Borno State, Boko Haram insurgents launched a deadly attack on Darajamal, killing 63 people, including five soldiers and 58 civilians. Governor Babagana Umara Zulum visited the community to console grieving families and condemned the attack as a brutal act against innocent people.

The governor called for the immediate deployment of newly trained Forest Guards to support the military in protecting vulnerable communities. Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan condemned the attack, calling it a crime against humanity.

The weekend’s violence highlights the continuing security challenges facing multiple regions across Nigeria, from banditry and kidnapping in the northwest to insurgency in the northeast. The clashes have resulted in significant loss of life and heightened insecurity for vulnerable communities.