Suspected bandits have killed the Chief Imam of Kuda-Kuda village in Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State and abducted several residents, including married women, during a deadly overnight assault that left at least four people dead.
The attack, which occurred in the early hours of Thursday, threw the community into panic as heavily armed assailants reportedly stormed the village, firing indiscriminately, rustling livestock and forcing residents to flee for safety.
Eyewitnesses said the gunmen invaded Kuda-Kuda at about 12:58 a.m. and operated for nearly two hours without interruption.
A resident, who requested anonymity, recounted the terrifying experience, saying villagers were caught off guard by the sustained gunfire.
“We were keeping vigil when we suddenly heard gunshots from different directions. We ran home, woke our families and fled towards the outskirts of the village to save our lives,” he said.
According to the source, the attackers moved from one house to another, abducting residents, with married women said to be among the primary targets.
“The three injured victims were shot in the chest and the bullets exited through their backs. As we speak, they have been taken to a hospital in Sokoto, but honestly, we are not optimistic about their chances of survival,” he added.
Residents identified those killed in the attack as the village Chief Imam, Liman Audu, Yahaya Hasanu, Zahara Mu’azu and Ibrahim Dayyabu.
Those reportedly abducted include Malam Shehu Farar Zaki, Yar Yamma, Khadija and six other residents whose identities were yet to be fully confirmed.
Another eyewitness disclosed that the assailants first attacked the residence of the Chief Imam before turning their attention to other villagers.
“After killing the Imam, they met three youths and asked them to follow them. When the youths refused, the bandits shot and killed them on the spot,” the resident said.
The latest attack has reignited concerns over worsening insecurity in eastern Sokoto, with residents lamenting what they described as the absence of timely security intervention.
One villager revealed that the latest incident marked the 11th bandit attack on Kuda-Kuda community, despite repeated appeals for enhanced security.
Efforts to obtain an official reaction from the spokesperson of the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmad Rufai, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Col. Ahmed Usman (Rtd), were unsuccessful, as calls, text messages and WhatsApp enquiries were not responded to as of the time this report was filed.
The attack is the latest in a string of violent raids that have continued to plague communities across eastern Sokoto State, where residents have repeatedly called on authorities to strengthen security measures to safeguard lives and property.
