Five Abducted, Including Pregnant Women, in Fresh Sokoto Attack
Armed bandits have abducted five residents, including two pregnant women, following a raid on Maiwa village in Sabon-Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The attack, which occurred around 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, saw the assailants storm the village on motorcycles, firing gunshots that sent residents fleeing for safety.
A resident, who requested anonymity, said the gunmen initially arrived at a mosque where villagers had gathered before opening fire.
“As soon as they started shooting, I ran towards the police post nearby, but the officers on duty fled when they saw the bandits approaching,” the source said.
The attackers later moved through the community, breaking into homes and abducting five individuals identified as Sadiya Umar, Firdausi Umar, Maryam Musa, Ubaida Musa, and Harira Nura.
It was gathered that two of the victims, Sadiya Umar and Ubaida Musa, are heavily pregnant and nearing delivery, heightening fears for their wellbeing in captivity.
The bandits also reportedly rustled 12 cows during the operation but later left the animals behind.
The incident forced many residents to temporarily flee across the border into the NigerRepublic, although some had begun returning to the village by Sunday.
Attempts to get a reaction from the Sokoto State Police Command were unsuccessful, as the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Rufai, did not respond to calls or text messages as of the time of this report.
