Suspected bandits have abducted eight persons in Garin Idi village, Sabon Birni Local Government Area, with some of the victims reportedly related to the deputy governor of Sokoto State.
Local sources said the attackers, riding on about eight motorcycles, stormed the village around 1:00 a.m. on Thursday, firing sporadically and forcing residents to flee into nearby bushes and safe locations.
Residents said the bandits operated for about two hours without any security response.
“I have never heard gunshots as intense as what we experienced yesterday. Now, we only fear them when they come, but once they leave, we calm down because we have become used to it. Still, there is no help,” a resident said.
Another source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the attackers initially rounded up about 30 people, mostly women and children, before releasing some and taking away eight victims.
According to the source, three of those abducted are men, while five are women. Some of the captives were reportedly released due to limited space on the attackers’ motorcycles.
The victims were identified as Hassana Adare Maifata, Rabi Alhaji Ishaqa, Kwamuso Umar, Yar’aji Garba, Kabiru Alkasim, Sani Muazu, Jadi Alkasim, said to be a patient, and another woman believed to be related to the deputy governor through a shared family lineage.
Sources added that many of the victims are members of the deputy governor’s extended family.
The attackers were also said to have raided a phone charging point in the village, carting away more than 100 mobile phones, power banks, and about N40,000 in cash.
“When they entered the charging point, the operator fled. They then took phones, mostly smartphones and power banks being charged, along with cash,” the source said.
Residents called on the government, particularly the deputy governor, to urgently address the worsening security situation in the area.
“We are appealing to him to look into our condition. As our son and the deputy governor, it is painful that we are being neglected despite being his relatives. We support him and do not wish him ill, but he has not assisted us in this difficult situation,” another resident said.
They expressed concern that despite their ties to the deputy governor, the community continues to suffer repeated attacks without prompt intervention.
No reaction yet from the spokesperson of the Sokoto State Police Command, Ahmad Rufai, as of the time of filing this report.