Bandits have abducted nine residents, shot another person and stolen more than 200 livestock during an attack on Illelar Dawagari community in Kagara Ward, Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The attackers stormed the community around 8:30 pm on Saturday, a resident told Daily Trust.
The resident said Saminu Arzika was outside the community to defecate when he noticed the bandits’ shadows. After flashing his torch at them, the attackers ordered that he be shot when he tried to shine the light on them again.
Arzika reportedly ran towards the community but was chased and shot. The gunfire sent residents fleeing into nearby bushes.
The resident said he had gone out to buy medicine and was getting a bottle of mineral drink when he heard the gunshot. He escaped by jumping over house walls into the bush.
The bandits reportedly operated until about 11 pm, moving from house to house and rustling over 200 livestock.
Nine people, five males and four females, were abducted. They included Maryam Yusuf, Rukayya Abdu and widow Maryam Abdullahi. The other victims were children aged 10 to 15.
Another resident remains in captivity despite payment of N1 million ransom, as the abductors now demand a Bajaj motorcycle.
Police spokesman DSP Ahmad Rufai said he would check and provide details but had not responded before filing.
The area has faced repeated attacks. In June, the chief imams of Dawagari and Kuda-Kuda villages were killed and residents abducted.
