At least five people have been killed and 22 others kidnapped in separate midnight raids on three communities in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
Sources, who asked not to be named, said the attacks happened between 11pm on Tuesday and midnight on Wednesday in Sabon Birni town, Dan Aduwa, and Kwaren Gamba.
In Sabon Birni town, the gunmen reportedly entered through Sabon Hegi quarters, a suburb on the town’s western side near a cemetery. Residents said the attackers fired shots randomly, creating panic.
“They came in through Sabon Hegi and started shooting indiscriminately. People were running in different directions,” a resident said.
Two people, identified as Abbas Sani and Bala Mai Laya Moriki, were killed, while eight others were abducted.
One resident said a visually impaired man was among those taken.
“They just carried him away. He couldn’t even see what was happening,” the source said.
The source added that one of those killed and five of the abducted had come from Moriki in Zamfara State for fish business.
Five people injured during the attack are now receiving treatment at Sabon Birni General Hospital.
Residents said security forces arrived about 20 minutes after the attackers left.
In Dan Aduwa village, the bandits struck around midnight, kidnapping three people, including two bridesmaids and a man. A resident linked the attack to celebratory gunfire at a wedding.
“Some youths were firing locally made guns during a wedding. Shortly after, the bandits stormed the village and abducted three people,” he said.
The kidnapped were identified as Sabiu Saidu, Balira Halliru, and Maryam Mansur. No deaths or injuries were reported in Dan Aduwa.
In Kwaren Gamba, gunmen reportedly arrived on motorcycles around 11.05pm, killing three people and abducting 11 others.
“They attacked us unexpectedly and started shooting. Three people were killed, while 11 others — six men and five women — were abducted,” a resident said.
Those killed were named as Malam Yakubu, his son Kabir Yakubu, and another resident, Yakubu.
The source added that security forces later intervened, stopping further attacks.
Aminu Boza, the member representing Sabon Birni North in the Sokoto State House of Assembly, confirmed the attacks but didn’t give casualty numbers.
DSP Ahmad Rufai, spokesperson for the Sokoto State Police Command, said he was still waiting for details from the Divisional Police Officer in Sabon Birni at the time of filing this report.
