Suspected bandits abducted at least 43 residents during coordinated attacks on Takatsaba and Tarah villages in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
Residents said the gunmen, armed with sophisticated weapons, stormed both communities late on Wednesday. They fired shots before going from house to house in search of victims.
A Takatsaba resident, who asked not to be named because some of his relatives were taken, told Daily Trust the attackers arrived around 11:30 p.m. and stayed for about an hour.
He said the gunmen killed the 10-year-old son of Abdullahi Ado’s family and kidnapped 32 people from seven households. Those taken included nine people from Mamman Dogo’s home; five from Abdullahi Ado’s family; the wife of the village’s Chief Imam; two people from the Mai Unguwa’s home; two orphaned children from the late Mallam Sani’s family; eight members of Mallam Abubakar’s household, including his wives and young children; and five people from Amadu Siro’s home.
He added that some residents were still missing after many fled into nearby bushes.
“People scattered in different directions while trying to save their lives. Up till now, we cannot account for everyone because of the confusion that followed the attack,” he said.
He said security operatives did not arrive during the attack.
“Our security personnel are doing their best to protect us, but this time the bandits outsmarted them. The security team was positioned on the western side of the village, while the attackers entered from the south-east and carried out the operation before leaving,” he said.
The resident said the village was also attacked eight days earlier, but security personnel repelled the assailants. He identified five abducted children from Abdullahi Ado’s family as Abubakar, Basira, Amira, Aisha and Naja’atu, aged between six and 16 years.
“We are not asking for electricity, water or any other project. What we need is security so that we can return to our farms and produce food. That is our only request,” he said.
In neighbouring Tarah, another resident said the attackers arrived at about 11:30 p.m. and stayed for about 50 minutes. He said three residents were injured, while 20 people were abducted before nine were later released at a river crossing. Most of the 11 still held are married women.
He said the bandits planted IEDs to slow security response and claimed authorities had done little despite repeated attacks. He also alleged that four locally procured guns seized before the last Ramadan had been used by villagers for self-defence.
“We are only asking Nigerians to remember us in their prayers,” he appealed.
Another resident confirmed 11 people were abducted despite villagers keeping vigil.
“Whenever night falls, everyone in the village keeps vigil in their respective areas. Despite that, the bandits still found their way into the village,” he said.
The abductees were identified as Marsiya Ya’u Gurmu, Aisha Ya’u Gurmu, Hadiza Illiti, Hajara Haruna Na’ita, Talata Atamo, Firdausi Lawali, Hafsat Na’inna, Maryam Gandi, Daudiya Haruna, Aisha Isaka and Samira Hussaini.
The attacks came days after residents raised concerns over renewed bandit attacks and the growing use of IEDs in eastern Sokoto. Sokoto State Police Command spokesman DSP Ahmad Rufai said he would verify the incident, but had not responded further as of the time of filing the report.
