Fresh attacks by bandits have left at least two people dead and 11 others abducted in separate incidents in Taloka and Huda communities of Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State, even as the state police command announced the arrest of two suspected kidnappers and the rescue of a 10-year-old boy.
The attacks highlight the growing security concerns in parts of Sokoto, with residents alleging that communities in the affected areas have suffered repeated raids and kidnappings.
In Taloka, residents said dozens of armed bandits riding about 20 motorcycles invaded the community around 12:30 am on Tuesday, firing shots and moving from house to house.
Several residents were reportedly abducted, including Alhaji Yusuf, his daughter, daughter-in-law, two married women and two children.
Yusuf was later killed after telling the attackers that he could not continue with them because of his advanced age. His nephew, identified as Abdullahi Dan Almajiri, was also killed during the attack.
In Huda community, bandits reportedly stormed farmlands around 9:30 am on Monday and abducted five farmers, although one of the victims was later released.
A resident alleged that the community had previously suffered several attacks, including the abduction of 46 residents during Ramadan. According to him, the victims were released after a ransom of N12 million and three motorcycles were paid.
The latest attack was described as the 11th on the community.
The Sokoto State Police Command said it was initially unaware of the attacks in Goronyo but promised to verify the reports through the Divisional Police Officer in the area.
Meanwhile, the command announced a breakthrough in its anti-kidnapping operations, confirming the arrest of two suspected kidnappers in separate operations.
Police spokesperson, DSP Ahmad Rufa’i, said operatives arrested Abdullahi Buba, popularly known as “Osho,” on August 8 during a raid on a suspected criminal hideout in Tudun Doki Village, Gwadabawa Local Government Area.
According to the police, preliminary investigations linked Buba to a kidnapping syndicate allegedly responsible for abductions and illegal levies imposed on communities across Gwadabawa, Kware and Gada LGAs.
In another operation, police detectives rescued a 10-year-old boy, Muhammad Sufiyanu, who was abducted in Gidan Madi Town, Tangaza LGA.
Rufa’i said detectives intercepted two men travelling on a motorcycle with a sack on Tuesday. The suspects reportedly fled after being confronted, abandoning the sack.
The boy was subsequently discovered alive inside it and rescued by the operatives.
The command said one suspect had been arrested while investigations into the incident and the activities of the syndicate were ongoing.
The contrasting developments — fresh mass abductions in Goronyo and the rescue of a kidnapped child — underscore the continuing battle between security forces and criminal gangs operating across parts of Sokoto State.
