Bandits abduct 20 travellers, farmers on Sabon Birni Market route Sokoto

Fear gripped communities in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State on Wednesday after suspected bandits reportedly abducted more than 20 travellers and farmers along the road leading to the area’s popular weekly market.

Information obtained by BusinessDay indicated that heavily armed riding on several motorcycles, allegedly struck around 10 a.m., opening fire sporadically and forcing commuters and residents to flee before seizing dozens of victims.

Eyewitnesses said the gunmen blocked the major access route to the market from different directions, targeting traders travelling for business as well as farmers working on nearby farmlands.

A resident, who requested anonymity, said the assailants advanced on motorcycles before launching the attack. “We saw them approaching on motorcycles before they started shooting. People heading to the market ran in different directions, but many were captured, including women working on nearby farms,” the witness said.

The resident claimed that more than 20 people were abducted during the operation, with some victims forced onto motorcycles while others were tied and marched into the forest after the motorcycles became overcrowded.

“Some men were bound with pieces of clothing, while the women were tied with their veils. The entire area echoed with gunfire,” the source added.

Another victim’s relative, Abdurrashid, said his mother was among those kidnapped while working on the family’s farm, lamenting that the incident had worsened the family’s hardship.

According to him, his father is ill and his mother had been solely responsible for providing for the family.

“My mother was taken while working on the farm. Since my father is sick, she has been taking care of us. I have now moved my younger siblings to our grandparents’ house,” he said.

Another resident explained that the attackers did not enter Sabon Birni town itself but operated around Mangwaron Bullun, an area linking communities including Katsira, Zakin Ganga, Maskin Wuya, Garin Dango, Garin Gardi, Garin Bage and Zududu.

The resident noted that the number of abducted persons could increase as families continue searching for relatives who travelled to the weekly market.

“Wednesday is market day in Sabon Birni, so many of those attacked were traders. Some families may not know their relatives are missing until much later,” the resident said.

When contacted, the member representing Sabon Birni Constituency in the Sokoto State House of Assembly said he would verify the reports surrounding the incident.

Efforts to obtain an official reaction from Ahmad Rufai, spokesperson of the Sokoto State Police Command, were unsuccessful as calls placed to his telephone line were not answered.

The latest attack has heightened concerns over the persistent insecurity in parts of Sokoto State, where communities have continued to grapple with recurring cases of kidnappings, killings and other violent attacks by armed groups.