Fear over the safety of lives and livelihoods spilled into the streets of Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State on Friday as residents protested a worsening wave of kidnappings and attacks blamed on armed criminals.
For many of the demonstrators, the concern went beyond the immediate danger of abduction or attack, as persistent insecurity threatens access to farmlands, markets and other activities on which households depend for survival.
The protesters called for urgent intervention by the Federal and Sokoto State governments, saying communities could no longer afford to live under the constant threat of criminal attacks.
They demanded the deployment of additional security personnel and operational equipment to vulnerable areas, alongside increased patrols, surveillance and intelligence gathering to identify and apprehend those behind the attacks.
The demonstrators also urged the military, police and other security agencies to strengthen their coordination, arguing that a sustained and intelligence-driven response was needed to prevent criminals from exploiting security gaps in rural communities.
The worsening situation, they warned, could have serious consequences for agriculture if farmers become too frightened to cultivate their fields or travel to areas considered unsafe. Such a development could further affect food supplies and household incomes in communities already struggling with insecurity.
Residents also expressed concern that continued attacks could force more families to abandon their homes and farmlands in search of safer places, gradually weakening the economic and social fabric of affected communities.
Confirming the protest, the Sokoto State Police Command said it was monitoring the situation and had security measures in place to protect residents.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Rufai, said security personnel were “on top of the situation”, assuring residents that necessary measures were being taken to safeguard lives and property.
The police assurance, however, came against the backdrop of heightened anxiety among residents who are seeking more visible and sustained security operations rather than assurances alone.
The Tambuwal protest has consequently brought renewed attention to the broader security crisis confronting parts of the North-West, where kidnapping and banditry have increasingly affected rural life, farming and local commerce.
For the residents, the immediate demand is simple: to be able to return to their farms, move freely, trade in markets and sleep in their homes without the fear of becoming the next victims of criminal attacks.
