Bandits kidnap over 50 wedding guests in Sokoto, kill monarch’s wife

Bandits have killed a wife of a village head and kidnapped over 50 people following an attack on Gebe and Alkammu villages in Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

Many peoples were also said to have been injured in the attack which occurred on Saturday.

The Star gathered that the wife of the village head of Gebe was killed after the gunmen attacked the village during a wedding ceremony.

A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed that the bandits were attracted by the movement of the wedding guests from other towns to Gebe.

“There was a wedding ceremony yesterday at the village head’s house. Most of those who were abducted were mostly from Sokoto city and Isa who were at the community to celebrate with the monarch,” he said.

The source said the wife of the village head was killed while resisting the abduction.

“She was the only person killed as far as we know now. And I was told by the displaced people of the village that she told the bandits that she would not follow them to their hideouts.

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“They however wounded several people in the attack you know because possibly they started shooting when they entered Gebe to scare people away,” the source added.

One of the villagers, Nuhu Shehu, said the village head of Gebe confirmed that 50 people were abducted.

Shehu said: “You know since there is no mobile network, it’ll be hard to get their response quickly. So, we only got to know what was happening when they come to Sokoto or Wurno.

“We now heard that 50 people mostly from Sokoto and Isa, who attended the ceremony were abducted and his (village head) wife killed.”

Prior to the attack, it was gathered that Alkammu community in Wurno Local Government Area of Sokoto State was attacked in Friday night.

Seven people, including a village leader, were said to have kidnapped in the attack.

Yusuf Gidan Dare, a local journalist from the area, confirmed that the attackers rustled some cattle in the village.

“They didn’t kill anyone in the attack on Alkammu.

“But they abducted seven residents including the Dangaladiman Alkammu (a senior traditional title holder) and six others. I learnt that they have not contacted the family for ransom payment yet,” Dare said.

The Star