Sokoto Govt clarifies viral video, says Tidibale residents weren’t chased by Bandits

By Abdulsalami Abdulfatai Sokoto

The Sokoto State Government has dismissed claims that residents of Tidibale village in Isa Local Government were forced out of their homes by bandits, describing a viral social media video suggesting so as misleading.
In a statement issued Tuesday by the Director-General of Media and Publicity, Abubakar Bawa, the government confirmed that the people in the video were indeed from Tidibale, but said they were temporarily moved to Isa town as a precaution after rumours of an imminent attack spread through the community.
According to the statement, the councillor representing Tidibale ward, Hon. Dayyabu Sani, alerted Isa Local Government Chairman Alhaji Sherifu Kamarawa, who approved the evacuation “to douse tension and avert panic” amid heightened insecurity in the area.
The villagers have since returned home safely, while security agencies are said to have intensified patrols to prevent any possible incursion by criminal elements.
As part of broader security measures, the state government also announced the establishment of a Forward Operations Base (FOB) in Tidibale to reinforce military presence and complement existing formations handling banditry across Isa Local Government.
The government reiterated its commitment to protecting lives and property and warned against politicising security matters. It also urged citizens—including those in rural border communities—to cooperate with authorities and avoid spreading rumours capable of sparking panic.
Sokoto remains one of several North-West states grappling with recurrent banditry, which has led to displacement, economic disruption and security deployments in multiple border communities.