Bandits Kill 5, Abduct 22 In Sokoto Midnight Attacks

Bandits have killed five and abducted 22 persons in midnight attacks on three communities in Sabon Birni local government area of Sokoto State

A security source said that the attacks occurred between 11 pm on Tuesday and 12 am on Wednesday in Sabon Birni town, Dan Aduwa and Kwaren Gamba.

In Sabon Birni town, the gunmen attacked through Sabon Hegi quarters, an outskirt area, entering from the western side of a cemetery and shooting sporadically, causing panic in the communities.

He revealed that two people, identified as Abbas Sani and Bala Mai Laya Moriki, were killed, while eight others were abducted.

According to him, a visually impaired man was among those abducted.

The source explained that one of those killed and five of the abducted victims had travelled from Moriki in Zamfara State for a fish business.

He stated that five injured persons were receiving treatment at the General Hospital in Sabon Birni.

Security operatives, he explained, arrived about 20 minutes after the attackers had fled.

In Dan Aduwa village, he said the bandits attacked the area around midnight, abducting three people, including two bridesmaids and a man.

A resident linked the attack to earlier celebratory gunfire during a wedding.

He said some youths were firing locally made guns during a wedding and, shortly after, the bandits stormed the village and abducted three people.

He identified those abducted as Sabiu Saidu, Balira Halliru and Maryam Mansur.

Meanwhile, in Kwaren Gamba, the attackers reportedly arrived on motorcycles at about 11:05 pm, killing three people and abducting 11 others.

The member representing Sabon Birni North in the Sokoto State House of Assembly, Aminu Boza, confirmed the attacks but did not give the casualty figure.

DSP Ahmad Rufai, the spokesman of the Sokoto State Police Command, when contacted, stated that he had yet to receive details from the divisional police officer in Sabon Birni.