Bandits abduct orphans, 5-year-old, married women in Sokoto

By Salim Ashir Mahuta, Sokoto Suspected bandits have killed two persons and abducted 17 others, including three orphaned children, in attacks across communities in Sabon Birni and Wurno local government areas of Sokoto State. The attacks, residents said, occurred late Tuesday and in the early hours of Wednesday. A resident of Tarah village in Sabon […]

By Salim Ashir Mahuta, Sokoto

Suspected bandits have killed two persons and abducted 17 others, including three orphaned children, in attacks across communities in Sabon Birni and Wurno local government areas of Sokoto State.

The attacks, residents said, occurred late Tuesday and in the early hours of Wednesday.

A resident of Tarah village in Sabon Birni Local Government Area, who requested anonymity for security reasons, told Daily Trust that the attackers arrived on foot at about 10pm and took advantage of rainstorm to invade the community.

He said villagers attempted to repel the attackers but were overpowered by the bandits due to the weapons barrier.

He said the assailants later went from house to house, breaking doors in search of residents.

According to him, many of the houses were empty because residents had abandoned them due to persistent insecurity in the area.

However, the attackers eventually entered in to a house were they found and abducted two married women identified as Lami, wife of Sani Tela, and Hajara, wife of Lauwali Tarno, alongside five children.

“Three of the abducted children are orphans. Their father has died, and two children of Hami Tela,” the resident said, adding that both the children are between the age of 5 and 9 years. The incident has thrown affected families into deeper distress.

The source further disclosed that the attackers killed one person identified as Nazifi Lauwali Kamtsa and shot another resident in the leg.

The injured victim was later taken to Orthopedic Hospital Wammako for treatment.

He lamented that security personnel did not arrive during the attack, adding that residents now spend nights patrolling their community because of recurring attacks by bandits.

Another resident confirmed the attack, lamenting that, “We have lived with this insecurity for about seven years. Most men no longer sleep peacefully at night. Some only sleep in the broad day light” he said.

In a similar attack, suspected bandits stormed Gidan Daji Alkammu village in Wurno Local Government Area at about 1am on Wednesday, killing one person identified as Hussaini and abducting 10 others.

A resident who spoke on condition of anonymity said those abducted comprised six women and four men, adding that the heavy rainfall at the time of the attack enabled the assailants to carry out their operation and escape with the victims.

When contacted, the spokesman of the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmad Rufai, said he would verify the incidents and get back to our correspondent.

However, he had yet to do so as of the time of filing this report.

The latest attacks are part of a growing wave of banditry affecting several communities in Sokoto State, particularly in Sabon Birni Local Government Area, where residents say insecurity has worsened in recent weeks.