Residents of the community in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State have fled, leaving homes empty and properties damaged.
Bandits reportedly loyal to notorious kingpin Bello Turji have reported killed the village head of Magarau, its chief Imam, and deserted the entire village.
Residents of the community in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State have fled, leaving homes empty and properties damaged.
A video obtained posted online by security expert Bakatsine shows the condition of the village after the attacks.
The narrator described the house of the late village head, highlighting the impact of the violence on the community.
“I hope the general public can see; this is what is left of the house of the late village head of Magarau, who was killed by armed bandits,” he said.
“This is the centre of the village and you will not find anyone here, not even an animal. They were displaced while many others were killed.”
The video also shows the deserted home of the late chief Imam.
The narrator explained that buildings were destroyed and while several properties were looted.
“Also, as you can see in this video, that is the deserted house of the late chief Imam of Magarau, who was also killed by the bandits. Houses were demolished and food items were carted away. And the entire village is now empty; no one is living there,” he said.
Also seen is the locked and empty home of the local vigilante leader, who was killed.
The narrator said, “Also, the empty house that has been locked is the house of the head of local vigilantes; he was also killed by the bandits.”
The attacks in Magarau follow a series of recent violent incidents attributed to armed groups in other parts of Nigeria.
Nigeria has been experiencing escalating insecurity, particularly in the North Central, Northwest, and Northeast regions.
In Kwara State, gunmen attacked the communities of Woro and Nuku, killing at least 162 people, according to the Red Cross and local authorities, with some estimates putting the toll at around 170.
Homes and shops were set ablaze as residents fled into the surrounding bushland, marking one of the deadliest assaults of the year.
In Kaduna State, 166 worshippers abducted during raids on churches in Kajuru Local Government Area in mid‑January have reportedly been freed, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) confirmed. The kidnappings initially involved about 177 people, with 11 escaping shortly after the attacks.
Benue State has also experienced organised violence, with armed attacks resulting in multiple civilian deaths and severe disruption to rural communities.