Suspected Bandits Attack Kware Town, Set Market Ablaze, One Killed

Panic and devastation gripped Kware town, headquarters of Kware Local Government Area in Sokoto State, following a deadly attack by suspected bandits on Saturday night.

Eyewitness accounts revealed that the attackers stormed the community in large numbers, shooting sporadically to disperse traders and buyers before setting the popular Kware Market ablaze.

One person was confirmed dead in the incident, while several others sustained critical injuries and are currently receiving treatment at a medical facility in Sokoto metropolis.

According to a report by Vanguard, a local resident, Malam Zaharadeen Kware, said the attackers appeared to have specifically targeted a shop belonging to a prominent businessman, whose identity remains undisclosed. Fortunately, the shop owner had closed for the day before the assault. Nevertheless, the assailants set the shop and the entire market on fire, destroying properties and livelihoods.

Kware, located along the Sokoto–Illela Road, has long struggled with persistent security challenges. Residents suspect the presence of informants within the community who may be aiding criminal elements, a concern further fueled by the precision of Saturday’s attack.

The town, notably the birthplace of Hon. Manir Muhammad Dan Iya, former Deputy Governor of Sokoto State, has suffered multiple attacks in the past. However, locals described the latest incident as one of the most devastating in recent memory.

Security forces have since been deployed to the area, but no arrests had been made as of the time of filing this report.