Amnesty International has called on the Nigerian authorities to immediately investigate the deadly attack on three communities in Wurno Local Government Area of Sokoto State, where at least seven people were killed and more than 17 others abducted by armed assailants.
The rights organisation, in a statement issued on Saturday, described the assault on Dinawa, Munki and Gidan Dare communities as “horrifying,” noting that the incident occurred on Wednesday, August 19, 2026.
According to Amnesty International, 15 of those abducted were women and girls, raising fresh concerns over the safety of residents in rural communities across Sokoto State.
The organisation said the latest attack underscores the growing vulnerability of villagers, who continue to face repeated assaults from gunmen, bandits and other armed groups.
“The Nigerian authorities must investigate the horrifying attack on Dinawa, Munki and Gidan Dare communities of Wurno Local Government Sokoto state in which 7 people were killed and more than 17 people abducted. Fifteen of the persons abducted were women and girls. The attack which took place on Wednesday 19 August 2026 once again shows how vulnerable rural communities are in Sokoto state,” Amnesty International said.
The rights group lamented the worsening insecurity in parts of the state, alleging that armed groups carry out attacks on an almost daily basis, leaving communities devastated and forcing many residents to flee their homes.
“Gunmen, bandits and armed groups — almost daily — continue to slaughter and abduct villagers across some parts of Sokoto state. These consistent attacks have left people at the mercy of gunmen on rampage. More villages are deserted especially in eastern and southern parts of Sokoto state. People spend larger part of their time attending funerals or paying condolence visits. Farms have been turned into graveyards that keep expanding,” the statement added.
Amnesty International further criticised what it described as the authorities’ inability to protect rural communities from recurring violence, warning that the continued attacks have become a long-standing humanitarian and security crisis.
“Terrifying attacks on rural communities in the north of Nigeria have been going on for years. The ongoing failure to take sufficient steps to protect villagers from these predictable attacks is utterly shameful,” the organisation stated.
The latest incident adds to the growing number of deadly attacks linked to banditry in northwestern Nigeria, where communities have repeatedly appealed for stronger security measures to protect lives and property.