The Sokoto State Government has declared a total war against terrorists and other criminal elements following the deadly attack on communities in Kebbe Local Government Area, while announcing financial and food assistance for families affected by the violence.
The intervention, ordered by Governor Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto, saw the state government provide N9 million to families of people killed or injured during the attack. The assistance was delivered on Saturday by a government delegation led by the Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Prof. Jabir Sani Maihulla, during a visit to the affected communities.
The delegation was sent to commiserate with families who lost relatives, offer support to survivors and provide immediate relief in the form of food and financial assistance. The government said the intervention was part of its response to the impact of the attack on residents of the affected communities.
Eight families whose relatives were killed received N1 million each, bringing the financial support for bereaved families to N8 million. In addition to the cash assistance, each of the eight families was given five bags of food items to help ease the immediate hardship resulting from the loss of their loved ones.
Four people who sustained injuries in the attack shared the remaining N1 million. Each injured victim received N250,000, alongside food assistance consisting of three bags each of rice, millet and maize.
Addressing residents during the visit, Maihulla conveyed the state government’s concern over the killings and the suffering experienced by families in the aftermath of the attack. He urged those affected to remain steadfast as they deal with the consequences of the violence.
“We are deeply concerned and greatly saddened by what has happened. We share in your grief and pain, and we urge the affected families to remain steadfast and continue to seek solace in Almighty Allah,” Maihulla said.
The commissioner also conveyed the governor’s determination to strengthen the state’s response to insecurity. According to him, Aliyu remains committed to providing security agencies with the resources required to improve their operations and confront terrorist activities across affected areas.
Maihulla said the state government was already supporting security agencies through operational vehicles, logistical assistance and other resources intended to improve their capacity to respond to threats.
“The Governor is doing everything within his capacity to address the security challenges, including providing operational vehicles, logistical support and other necessary assistance to the security agencies to strengthen their operations and support the efforts to end the activities of the terrorists,” he stated.
The latest violence has added to the security pressures confronting parts of Sokoto State, where rural communities continue to face threats from terrorists and other criminal groups. For residents of Kebbe, the attack has brought renewed attention to the vulnerability of communities affected by insecurity and the need for sustained security intervention.
Beyond the immediate financial assistance, the government delegation’s visit was also intended to provide reassurance to residents and families dealing with the aftermath of the attack. Officials met with affected communities as the state sought to demonstrate support for those who lost relatives or suffered injuries.
The Chairman of Kebbe Local Government Council, Musa Garba Kuchi, welcomed the intervention and expressed appreciation to Governor Aliyu for responding to the needs of residents at a difficult time.
“We profoundly appreciate His Excellency, Governor Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto, for this timely intervention, compassion and continued support to the people of Kebbe, particularly at this difficult period,” Kuchi said.
Kuchi described the assistance as timely, particularly for families confronting the immediate consequences of the attack. The support provided both financial relief and food supplies to households whose circumstances had been severely affected by the violence.
The Sarkin Kabbin Kebbe, Lawali Labbo Margai, and the Commissioner for Transport, Bala Kokani, also commended the state government’s intervention. They joined calls for lasting peace in Kebbe and other parts of Sokoto State affected by insecurity.
The government maintained that its response would extend beyond sympathy for victims, with security agencies expected to receive continued operational support as authorities work to confront terrorist and criminal activities.
For the affected families, however, the assistance comes amid grief and the disruption caused by the attack. The N9 million intervention has provided immediate support to those who lost relatives or sustained injuries, while the wider security response remains focused on preventing further attacks on vulnerable communities.
With the state government declaring a total war against terrorists and other criminals, attention will now remain on how security agencies and the government translate the promised operational and logistical support into stronger protection for communities in Kebbe and across Sokoto State.
Kebbe Attack: Sokoto Government Declares Total War on Terrorists, Releases N9m for Victims
