The recent alleged massacre of over 150 people and the subsequent destruction of military-grade Mine-Resistant, Ambush-Protected (MRAP) vehicles by terrorists have ignited concerns across Nigeria. These incidents may have prompted the federal government to order the immediate relocation of service chiefs to Sokoto State to oversee intensified counterterrorism and anti-banditry operations in the North West.

Social media platforms were flooded yesterday with viral videos purportedly showing the massacre of villagers in an unidentified location. Speculation on social media suggested that the massacre occurred in Sokoto State, leading to the federal government’s swift directive. Another viral video depicted bandits capturing and setting ablaze wheeled armored vehicles belonging to the Nigerian Armed Forces. The location of this attack was alleged to be Zamfara State, the home state of the Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle.

In response to these developments, there has been widespread jubilation among residents of the affected states, hopeful that the presence of the military leadership will bring a decisive end to the terror that has plagued the region.

Dr. Bello Matawalle, in a statement issued on Saturday, conveyed the federal government’s directive to the service chiefs. As part of a high-powered military delegation, Matawalle joined the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and other top military officials in Sokoto. The statement, titled “Matawalle, CDS, and Other Service Chiefs to Storm Sokoto to Flush Out Bandits in the North West,” expressed deep concern over the escalating activities of terrorists and bandits terrorizing Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, and Kebbi States.

Matawalle emphasized that this strategic move underscores the government’s unwavering commitment to restoring peace and security in the region. He assured the public that the military operations would focus on dismantling the networks of notorious bandits, particularly the gang led by Bello Turji.

However, in a bid to refute the viral videos showing the capture and burning of military armaments, the Defence Minister explained that the incident involved a Nigerian military armored vehicle that became stuck in a waterlogged area. The soldiers were later ordered to withdraw to avoid an ambush, allowing bandits to capture and film the vehicle. The incident reportedly occurred in Kwashabawa, Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

Dr. Matawalle stressed that the situation is unacceptable, especially given the significant support that President Bola Tinubu has provided to the armed forces. “The federal government is deeply concerned about the persistent threat posed by banditry and terrorism in the North West,” he stated. “We are ready to deploy all necessary assets to ensure that these criminal elements are flushed out and peace is restored to our communities.”

Despite the reassurances, the alleged abduction of 150 villagers and the killing of the Emir of Gobir have raised further concerns. During a press conference in Abuja, Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, stated that the military could not confirm these reports. However, when pressed for an update on the viral video footage, Buba did not respond to messages sent to his mobile number at the time of reporting.

Meanwhile, an online news portal conducted a fact check on the viral video footage purportedly showing a mass killing in Sokoto State. The investigation traced the video to Sudan, casting doubt on its authenticity. The portal noted that the video, depicting a gruesome scene of gunmen massacring people in deep trenches, had been widely circulated on WhatsApp with claims that it showed bandits killing abducted victims in Sokoto State.

The online medium highlighted that a national daily had previously reported the abduction of over 150 persons and the rustling of more than 1,000 cattle in some villages in the Gobir Emirate of Sokoto State. The incident occurred shortly after the death of the Emir of Gobir, Alhaji Isa Muhammad Bawa, who had been kidnapped.