Police Confirm Bandit Attack Near Sokoto University

The Sokoto State Police Command has confirmed that armed bandits attacked Gidan Asarki, a community close to Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, on Sunday night, leaving one resident injured and rustling 28 cattle.

Police spokesperson Ahmed Rufai told reporters on Monday that the assailants stormed the village around 9 pm, shot a man in the leg, and fled with the livestock.

“They invaded Gidan Asarki village and shot one person in the leg and rustled 28 cattle,” Rufai said.Residents recounted that the attackers threatened to harm the community and demanded that students living nearby be handed over.

Fortunately, the incident occurred during the university holiday, when most students were away.A resident, Hussaini, confirmed that the injured victim survived and was taken to hospital for treatment.

Another resident, Jameel Muhammad, said the gunmen carted away “more than 20 cows,” though police later clarified the number as 28.No deaths or abductions were reported at the time of filing this story.

The attack has heightened concerns about security in rural settlements surrounding Usmanu Danfodiyo University, where communities remain vulnerable to banditry and cattle rustling, persistent challenges across northwestern Nigeria.