Bandits have abducted over 150 individuals and rustled more than 1,000 cattle from several villages in the Gobir Emirate of Sokoto State.
This incident comes just days after the death of the Emir of Gobir, Alhaji Isa Muhammad Bawa, who was kidnapped alongside his son and six others on July 29 while travelling on the Sokoto-Sabon Birni Road.
The late Emir, who also served as the District Head of Gatawa, appeared in a viral video with his hands and legs tied, pleading with the Sokoto State government, the Sultanate Council, and his relatives to help pay the ransom demanded by his captors.
He stated that the bandits had set a deadline for the ransom payment, threatening to kill him if it was not met. His death prompted mass protests from local youths, leading the state government to impose a curfew on Sabon Birni.
Professor Bello Bada from the Department of English at Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto, expressed concern over the resurgence of bandit attacks in the area. He pointed out that some local residents could access the bandits’ phone numbers and even communicate with them, suggesting that the bandits’ identities are known to the community.
“The most painful thing is that some important people in the area can access the telephone numbers of the bandits and have conversations with them. It means the bandits are known. People negotiate with them, so they know where they are,” Bada said. “How can 1,000 cows be rustled and taken away without anyone noticing? We need to address these issues seriously for the future of our children.”
Aminu Boza, a member of the Sokoto State House of Assembly representing Sabon Birni (North), confirmed the abductions. “A total of 192 people have been abducted, and they remain in captivity,” he said. “The bandits have also taken over 20,000 hectares of farmland, preventing locals from cultivating their land for years. Over 92% of our wealth has been destroyed by these bandits.”
Boza also highlighted the lack of security presence in many banditry-prone areas, such as Kwanar Maharba, Turtsawa, Unguwar Lalle, Tagirke, and Kwanar Tambazawa. He noted that Kwanar Maharba is particularly dangerous, with bandit attacks occurring almost daily. As a result, some residents now travel through the Niger Republic when going to Sokoto because it is safer.
“The locations of most of the bandit leaders are known,” Boza added. “For example, Bello Turji is based in Fakai, Halilu in Tsububu village, and Jummo Baki in Gangara village. I recently met with the Sokoto State Deputy Governor, and we are working on deploying an additional 1,200 soldiers to Sokoto State. Sabon Birni should receive more security personnel within the next week.”
The lawmaker believes the increased military presence will help reduce banditry in the area and urged the federal government to address the plight of Sabon Birni residents.
When contacted, Sokoto State Police Public Relations Officer SP Ahmad Rufa’i stated that the police had not yet received a report on the abductions but promised to investigate further with the Sabon Birni Divisional Office.
