Bandits gun down Imam, three others, abduct 12 residents in Sokoto

Gunmen suspected to be bandits have killed an imam and three other persons and abducted 12 residents during an attack on Illelar Dawagware village in Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

Residents said the attackers invaded the village at about 12:20 a.m. on Sunday, arriving on approximately nine motorcycles.

The assailants, estimated to be about 30 in number, reportedly operated for about 30 minutes, firing sporadically as they attacked the community.

A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said villagers attempted to repel the attackers but were overpowered.

According to him, the bandits stormed the residence of the village imam, killed him and three others before moving from house to house and abducting 12 residents.

“They killed our imam, his neighbour and one other. They later abducted 12 people, comprising eight women and four men,” he said.

The victims killed were identified as Mallam Liman Lawwali Na Ande, Lawwali Na Lami and Abdullahi Haruna.

Those abducted include Amiru, Hauwa, Awwalu and nine others.

The source added that Alhaji Samaila sustained a gunshot injury that fractured his hand and is currently receiving treatment at a health facility in Sokoto.

Residents also accused security operatives of failing to respond to distress calls during the attack.

“We called security personnel in Goronyo for reinforcement and even offered to provide money for fuel, but they did not come,” the source alleged.

He described the incident as the 24th attack on the village.

“They came two years ago and killed seven people from the same family inside a mosque. We had not experienced another attack until now. Just last Sunday, some displaced residents returned to the village after spending about two years away,” he said.

Another resident who attended the burial of the imam said fear had gripped the community, adding that many villagers had resolved not to spend the night in the village again.

“They will now sleep at the IDPs camp in Goronyo because they fear another attack,” he said.

The residents appealed to the Federal Government, the Sokoto State Government and security agencies to take urgent action to end the recurring attacks on the community.

Efforts to reach the spokesperson of the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmad Rufai, were unsuccessful, as calls and text messages sent to him were not responded to as of the time this report was filed.

The latest incident comes days after bandits reportedly killed another chief imam and abducted nine persons in Kuda-Kuda village, also in Goronyo Local Government Area.