Hussaini Ibrahim 
SOKOTO, Nigeria – At least 150 suspected bandits are feared dead after a boat carrying them capsises in Sabon Gida, Sokoto State, in a rare mass-casualty incident linked to ongoing insecurity in northwestern Nigeria.
A regional counter-insurgency expert, Zagazola Makama, discloses the incident in a post on X, stating that the tragedy occurs on Saturday evening as the vessel attempts to cross a river with a large number of armed men onboard.
“Preliminary information suggests that many of them could not swim, leading to heavy casualties,” Makama says, adding that early reports indicate no survivors, though details remain unverified.
Authorities have yet to issue an official statement, leaving the circumstances and casualty figures unclear. The incident underscores the fluid and often chaotic movements of armed groups operating across rural communities in the region.
Security analysts say such mass movements highlight the scale of banditry networks, even as military operations intensify.
About the Author
Oluwafunbi Bello 
Korede Abdullah 
Koko Maxwella 