SOKOTO: Bandits abduct over 150 in Gobir community

The incident occurred just days after the death of the Emir of Gobir, Alhaji Isa Muhammad Bawa, who was also the District Head of Gatawa.

The Emir, along with his son and six others, was abducted on July 29 on the Sokoto-Sabon Birni Road.

In a widely circulated video, the late Emir, with his hands and legs tied, pleaded with the Sokoto State government, the Sultanate Council, his family, and friends to help raise the ransom demanded by the kidnappers.

He warned that the bandits had set a deadline for the ransom payment, threatening to kill him if it wasn’t met.

Following his death, hundreds of local youths protested, prompting the state government to impose a curfew in Sabon Birni.

Professor Bello Bada from the Department of English at Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto, confirmed the recent abductions, expressing concern that bandits had resumed their activities in the area so soon after the district head’s death.

He questioned the ease with which bandits operate, pointing out that some local figures are able to contact the bandits by phone, suggesting that they are well known in the community.

He also raised concerns about the security forces’ apparent inability to prevent the theft of over 1,000 cattle or track the bandits as they moved through villages and towns.

A member of the Sokoto State House of Assembly representing Sabon Birni (North), Aminu Boza, stated that 151 people were abducted between Tsamaye and Sabon Birni.

He added that, following the death of the Sarkin Gobir, bandits attacked Tsamaye village again, killing several people and abducting others.

They also attacked Yanfaruna village, abducting 22 people, and another village, where they kidnapped 11 more, bringing the total number of abductees to 192, all of whom remain in captivity.

Boza also revealed that the bandits have seized over 20,000 hectares of land, preventing locals from farming for several years and leading to the loss of over 92% of the area’s wealth.

He noted that many banditry-prone areas in Sabon Birni, including Kwanar Maharba, Turtsawa, Unguwar Lalle, Tagirke, and Kwanar Tambazawa, have no security presence.

He specifically highlighted Kwanar Maharba as a particularly dangerous area, where banditry occurs almost daily, forcing residents to reroute through Niger Republic when traveling to Sokoto due to safety concerns.

Boza noted that the locations of many bandit leaders are known, including Bello Turji in Fakai, Halilu in Tsububu village, and Jummo Baki in Gangara village.

Boza mentioned that he recently met with the Sokoto State deputy governor, and they are working to deploy an additional 1,200 soldiers to the state, with Sabon Birni set to receive more security personnel within the next week.

He believes this deployment will significantly reduce banditry in the area and urged the federal government to address the concerns of Sabon Birni residents.

When contacted, Sokoto State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ahmad Rufa’i, stated that the police had not yet received reports of these abductions but promised to investigate with the Sabon Birni Divisional Office.