A suspected armed bandit attack has left a trail of tragedy in Giyawa village, located in the Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State, as four individuals lost their lives, and eighteen others were reportedly abducted.
Goronyo, part of the Eastern Senatorial District in Sokoto State, has been grappling with security challenges in recent times.
Sokoto State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Ahmed Rufai, confirmed the incident, stating that initially, eighteen individuals were taken captive by the assailants. Seven of the abducted victims subsequently managed to escape and return to their community, where many residents have fled to seek safety.
Although some sources from the affected community claim that more than thirty individuals were abducted, the police maintain that only eleven individuals remain in the custody of the attackers.
ASP Ahmed Rufai assured that the police are actively pursuing the assailants and striving to restore normalcy to the affected community and its surroundings.
However, some residents in the community have contested the reported figures of abductions, suggesting that around 30 people were taken.
Inuwa Yusuf, a local resident, stated, “It is not true; we have about thirty people kidnapped by these bandits who also rustled our livestock and made away with a large number of them.”