The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has demanded an immediate security offensive against armed bandits following reports that gunmen intercepted a vehicle and shot passengers returning from Sokoto city, along the road to Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The rights group warned that Nigerians could not continue to travel in fear while armed criminals turned public highways into killing grounds, insisting that security agencies must deliver arrests and prosecutions rather than issue routine condemnations after every attack.
Reports indicate that the gunmen attacked the passengers on Wednesday, October 21, 2026. The number of people killed or injured had not been officially confirmed as of Thursday.
Some of those reportedly killed were said to be among the 3,000 people recruited by the Sokoto State Government who had travelled to the state capital for further screening and collection of their documents.
Reacting to the incident, HURIWA described the reported killings as a grave indictment of efforts to protect travellers and vulnerable communities in the North-West.
The association called on the police, military and other security agencies to launch coordinated, intelligence-led operations to identify the attackers, dismantle their networks and prevent further assaults.
It demanded an urgent investigation to establish the number and identities of the victims, trace the perpetrators and ensure their prosecution.
“Nigerians cannot continue to travel in fear while armed criminals intercept vehicles and open fire on defenceless passengers,” HURIWA said, calling for stronger intelligence sharing, highway surveillance and strategic deployment of security personnel.
The group also urged the Sokoto and Federal Governments to provide security agencies with the personnel, logistics and operational support required to protect lives, while ensuring that affected families receive timely information and assistance.
HURIWA warned that attacks followed by condemnations but no visible accountability would deepen public anxiety and further erode confidence in the government’s ability to protect citizens.
It said the security crisis in the North-West required sustained operations, actionable intelligence and measurable results, not promises made after lives had been lost.
The association extended condolences to the victims’ families and demanded regular updates on the investigation, warning that the killings must not become another unresolved tragedy.
The casualty figures and circumstances of the attack had yet to be officially confirmed in the information available as of Thursday.