By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu
Tired of waiting for government protection, residents of Bimasa in Tureta Local Government Area of Sokoto State have taken matters into their own hands.
The villagers stormed a forest hideout, confronted armed bandits, and killed several of them while rescuing kidnapped victims.
Residents of Bimasa community in Tureta, Sokoto State, have launched a daring attack on bandits who have terrorised them for months, leaving deaths, kidnappings, and displacement in their wake.
Local sources said the villagers, frustrated by what they called government inaction, tracked the criminals to their hideout in the forest and engaged them in a fierce battle. In the process, more than 10 bandits were reportedly killed, livestock was recovered, and kidnapped relatives were set free. One of the attackers was captured alive and brought back to the community.
The Chairman of Tureta Local Government, Aliyu Tureta, confirmed the incident but gave a different figure, saying six bandits were killed and several rustled cattle recovered.
Community leaders praised the courage of the locals but warned that reprisal attacks were likely. They appealed to government and security agencies to urgently provide more reinforcements and protect the community from further attacks.
For months, Tureta has been a hotbed of bandit violence. Residents have repeatedly staged protests, accusing the government of neglect. Just recently, youths threatened to take up arms if nothing was done to safeguard their lives and property.
The latest action by the villagers reflects growing anger and desperation among communities in Sokoto and other parts of northern Nigeria, where insecurity has become a daily nightmare.