The assailants, whose identities remain unknown, opened fire on residents of Kwallaijiya village, causing panic and mass casualties. Authorities say the attack occurred late Tuesday night, and emergency services are still responding to the aftermath.
No group has claimed responsibility for the violence. Northern Nigeria has faced growing insecurity in recent years, with various armed gangs — commonly referred to as “bandits” — frequently launching attacks on rural communities. In addition to criminal networks, terror groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) continue to operate across the region.
Security forces have been deployed to the area, and an investigation is underway. Officials warn that casualty numbers may rise as more information becomes available.
The Sokoto incident is the latest in a series of deadly assaults that have targeted remote villages, further highlighting Nigeria’s ongoing struggle to contain violence across multiple fronts.