NO fewer than four people were killed and several others injured after suspected bandits disguised in military uniforms attacked Unguwan Lalle community in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State, in a fresh assault that came barely hours after the Nigerian Army arrested a wanted soldier accused of allegedly supplying military uniforms and accoutrements to terrorists and criminal syndicates.
News Point Nigeria reports that while residents of the Sokoto community recounted how the attackers deceived villagers by posing as soldiers before unleashing terror, the military announced the arrest of Private Mohammed Yusuf, a soldier recently declared wanted for allegedly supplying military uniforms and military equipment to terrorists, as investigations continue into his alleged activities.
Residents said the attack on Unguwan Lalle began at about 8:00 p.m. on Sunday and continued until about 2:00 a.m. on Monday, during which the heavily armed assailants looted homes and shops, rustled an unspecified number of livestock and left several people injured.
According to residents, the attackers operated for nearly six hours despite the presence of security personnel in the area earlier in the day.
Locals told Daily Trust that the assailants, estimated to number about 200, stormed the community from different directions, initially deceiving residents into believing they were genuine military personnel because they were dressed in military uniforms.
“We thought they were soldiers because they were wearing military uniforms. They surrounded the village, opened fire on anyone trying to escape, ransacked our homes, carted away our livestock and looted goods from our shops,” one resident said.
The victims were identified as Bilyaminu Wakkala and Danbaki Tulunawa, while the two other deceased were residents of nearby Kongurus village.
Residents explained that the two victims from Kongurus usually spent the night in Unguwan Lalle because of persistent insecurity in their own community before returning home during the day.
According to residents, the attack occurred less than one hour after troops who had earlier responded to another bandit attack in the area withdrew from the village.
One resident said soldiers had arrived earlier in two armoured vehicles after bandits allegedly killed a farmer in the area during the day.
“The soldiers responded quickly and stayed in the village until about 8 p.m. before returning to their base. Just a few minutes after they left, the bandits came back wearing military uniforms,” the resident said.
He added that the attackers deliberately avoided the main road where a military checkpoint was located and instead infiltrated the community through alternative routes while residents were observing the Isha prayer.
“They entered through other routes and positioned some of their men with RPGs at strategic locations. The first victim was a motorcycle rider, followed by three others who tried to flee. They searched our houses repeatedly and even threatened to shoot my mother when she came out of her room,” the resident recounted.
Efforts to obtain official reactions on the attack were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
The Chairman of Sabon Birni Local Government Area, Alhaji Ayuba Hashimu, and the member representing Sabon Birni North Constituency in the Sokoto State House of Assembly, Hon. Aminu Boza, did not respond to repeated telephone calls placed by journalists.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmad Rufa’i, confirmed the killing of a farmer in the area but said he had not yet been briefed on the reported attack on the community.
“I have received a report confirming the killing of one person in the area on Sunday. However, I have not yet been briefed about the other reported attack on the community,” he said.
The deadly attack came hours after the Nigerian Army announced the arrest of Private Mohammed Yusuf, a soldier who had recently been declared wanted for allegedly supplying military uniforms and accoutrements to terrorists and criminal syndicates.
Yusuf was arrested at about 6:30 p.m. on July 25, 2026, at Jidari Bus Stop in Maiduguri, Borno State, while he was reportedly attempting to flee across the border into the Republic of Cameroon.
The Acting Military Information Officer for the North-East Joint Task Force, Operation HADIN KAI, Capt. Muhammed Goni, confirmed the arrest in a statement issued on Sunday.
According to the military, the operation was successfully carried out by troops of the 7 Provost Group following credible human intelligence.
Goni disclosed that Private Yusuf, who bears service number 23NA/84/1939 and is attached to the Nigerian Army Ordnance Corps, had officially been declared wanted on July 23, 2026.
“The suspect was apprehended at Jidari Bus Stop, Maiduguri, while allegedly attempting to flee to the Republic of Cameroon.
“A preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect absconded from his unit on 7 July 2026 and subsequently relocated to Maiduguri, where he reportedly went into hiding in the Gomari Costain area of Jere Local Government Area with the assistance of an associate,” Goni stated.
The military spokesman said the swift arrest underscored the effectiveness of intelligence-driven operations and reflected the Nigerian Army’s unwavering resolve to confront internal sabotage within its ranks.
According to him, the suspect is currently in the custody of the 7 Provost Group, where further investigations are ongoing to determine the full extent of his alleged activities and identify other individuals who may have been involved.
The latest developments have again drawn attention to growing concerns over the alleged misuse of military uniforms by criminal groups operating across the North-West and North-East, as security agencies continue efforts to dismantle networks supporting terrorist and bandit activities.