Bandits have abducted over 150 individuals and rustled more than 1,000 cattle from villages in Gobir Emirate, Sokoto State, just days after the death of the kidnapped Emir of Gobir, Alhaji Isa Muhammad Bawa.
The attack occurred following the killing of Bawa, who was also the District Head of Gatawa. Bawa, along with his son and six others, was kidnapped on July 29 on the Sokoto-Sabon Birni Road.
In a viral video, the Emir, with his hands and legs bound, was seen pleading for help to pay the ransom demanded by the kidnappers. After the ransom deadline passed, Bawa was killed.
In response to Bawa’s death, youths in the area staged protests, leading the state government to impose a curfew on Sabon Birni. Despite these measures, bandits returned to the area shortly after the district head’s death.
Professor Bello Bada from the Department of English at Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto, confirmed the latest abductions, expressing frustration over the apparent accessibility of the bandits to local contacts. He questioned the local intelligence and security measures, noting that bandits were able to freely sell rustled cattle in the area and take hundreds of cattle into the bush while residents were mining for gold in the same regions.
Aminu Boza, a member of the Sokoto State House of Assembly representing Sabon Birni (North), reported that a total of 151 people were abducted between Tsamaye and Sabon Birni.
The bandits attacked Tsamaye village the day after Bawa’s death, killing some people and abducting an unspecified number. They also attacked Yanfaruna village, abducting 22 people, and another village, where 11 people were taken. In total, 192 individuals have been abducted and remain in captivity.
Boza also highlighted the significant impact on local agriculture, stating that over 20,000 hectares of land have been lost to bandits who have prevented cultivation for several years. He called on the federal government to address the plight of Sabon Birni residents.
