By BONIFACE AKARAH

The Sokoto State Government has clarified a viral social media video suggesting that residents of Tidibale village in Isa Local Government Area were chased out of their community by bandits, describing the claim as misleading.

In a statement issued on Thursday by the Director-General, Media and Publicity, Government House, Sokoto, Abubakar Bawa, the government explained that the individuals seen in the footage were temporarily moved to the Isa Local Government headquarters as a precaution following intelligence reports of a possible bandit attack.

According to the statement, the relocation was ordered after a rumour of an impending attack created panic in the community. The councillor representing the ward, Hon. Dayyabu Sani, was said to have promptly reported the situation to the Chairman of Isa Local Government Area, Alhaji Sherifu Kamarawa, who approved the temporary movement of residents to ensure their safety.

“The individuals in the video are residents of Tidibale village, but they were not chased away by bandits,” the government stated, adding that the relocation was a proactive security measure.

The government further disclosed that the affected residents have since returned safely to their ancestral homes, while security agencies have intensified patrols in the area to prevent any breach of peace.

“The Sokoto State Government has also approved the establishment of a Forward Operations Base in Tidibale to complement existing security formations in Isa Local Government Area,” the statement said, noting that the move is part of ongoing efforts to safeguard lives and property in rural communities.

Reaffirming its commitment to security, the government said it would continue to work closely with conventional security agencies, the Sokoto State Community Guard Corps, and vigilante groups to combat banditry across the state.

It warned against the politicisation of security matters and urged residents to refrain from spreading unverified information, especially on sensitive security issues, stressing that rumours often fuel unnecessary panic.

The government also called on citizens to cooperate with security agencies by exposing criminal informants within their communities.