Bandits abduct IDPs in Sokoto
Several internally displaced persons (IDPs) who had just returned to their communities were abducted by suspected bandits on Wednesday following fresh attacks on Gasalodi and Tungar Barke villages in Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State. The attack occurred around 11 a.m. as residents, who had been taking refuge in nearby Jabo town after earlier […]
Several internally displaced persons (IDPs) who had just returned to their communities were abducted by suspected bandits on Wednesday following fresh attacks on Gasalodi and Tungar Barke villages in Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The attack occurred around 11 a.m. as residents, who had been taking refuge in nearby Jabo town after earlier attacks, attempted to resettle in their villages.
Sources said the assailants also rustled an unspecified number of livestock before fleeing with the victims.
A resident of Jabo, who confirmed the incident to Daily Trust, said the affected villagers had returned home only a day earlier after spending several weeks in displacement.
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“They returned yesterday, but unfortunately some of them were abducted this morning. The bandits also carted away their livestock,” the source said.
He added that the attackers had earlier threatened to return if the villagers attempted to resettle.
“They warned the residents that they would come back once they returned, and that is exactly what happened,” he said.
Another resident estimated that about 20 people were abducted during the raid.
“I was on my farm when I saw villagers running back to Jabo to escape the attack,” he said.
A visit by our correspondent to Jabo showed many displaced residents seeking shelter in public schools, while others gathered along major roads after fleeing the renewed violence.
One of the displaced women, Yarmagaji, a widow and mother of five from Tungar Barke, said she had been living in a school for over a month after being displaced.
“I have five children, all orphans. Since we arrived here about a month ago, I have been begging to feed them because I have no other means of survival,” she said.
She appealed to the Tambuwal Local Government Council and relevant authorities to provide relief materials for the displaced families.
At the General Hospital in Jabo, victims receiving treatment for injuries sustained in previous bandit attacks expressed frustration over what they described as government neglect.
One of the patients, Abubakar Muhammad, said he sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his left hand during an attack on Babban Rafi village about three weeks ago.
“They came on about 20 motorcycles and started shooting indiscriminately. I tried to escape, but one of them chased me, ordered me to stop, and when I refused, he opened fire. Several bullets hit my hand and I lost consciousness,” he recounted.
Muhammad said he had been paying for his medical treatment without any government assistance.
“Since I was admitted about three weeks ago, no government official has visited us or offered to pay our medical bills,” he said.
Another injured victim, Muhammad Sahabi, said he was transporting bags of grain on his motorcycle when the bandits attacked.
“They shot me in the hand, and my family has been responsible for all my hospital expenses,” he said.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmad Rufa’i, said he had yet to receive a briefing on the incident but assured our correspondent that he would provide further details once available.