From Bashir Rabe Mani, Sokoto
Tragedy struck Sabon Birni town in the Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State on Monday night, as suspected bandits launched a violent attack, killing a local security operative and abducting numerous residents.
The deceased was identified as an operative of the Sokoto Community Guards, who was killed while attempting to defend the area.
According to local sources, the heavily armed attackers invaded the town under the cover of darkness, shooting sporadically before marching scores of residents away into the surrounding forests. The total number of abducted persons remains unconfirmed as the community counts its losses.
Reliable multiple sources confirmed the incident, describing it as the latest attempt by armed criminals to infiltrate the town, which currently hosts many displaced persons from surrounding communities affected by insecurity.
The member representing Sabon Birni State Constituency in the Sokoto State House of Assembly, Hon. Aminu Boza, confirmed the attack.
According to the Lawmaker, several people were taken away by the fleeing bandits.
He,however, noted that the exact number of abductees could not yet be determined.
“I cannot give the exact number of people abducted because Sabon Birni is not a small community. Some residents may have fled into nearby bushes, while others might not have been in town at the time of the attack. Until a thorough search is conducted, it will be difficult to ascertain the exact figure,” Boza said.
A resident of the area, who spoke on condition of anonymity, claimed that about 10 people were abducted during the attack.
“This is the third attempt by bandits to invade Sabon Birni, and they used the same route as in previous attacks,” the resident said.
“They killed one community guard and abducted about 10 people.”
Boza explained that the attack occurred at Kantin Gabas, located on the outskirts of Sabon Birni town near the community’s Eid prayer ground.
“We cannot say the attack did not happen in Sabon Birni because the location is just outside the town and serves as our Eid prayer ground,” he said.
According to him, the slain community guard was shot in the hand during the attack and later died while being transported to a hospital on Tuesday morning.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmad Rufa’i, said he had not yet received information about the incident but promised to contact the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the area for further details.
