Fear has once again gripped the residents of Isa Local Government Area in Sokoto State following a daring early morning raid by bandits. The attackers invaded Gazau village in the early hours of Monday, leaving the community in a state of shock and confusion.
According to local reports, the gunmen stormed the village at approximately 1:00 am when most residents were asleep. They moved from house to house, forcibly taking thirteen people into the dark night.
Assailants implement strange selection process in forest
The situation took a bizarre turn as the bandits led their captives toward the dense Dan Adama Forest. Sources within the community revealed that the attackers stopped mid-journey to conduct a selection process among the victims.
The bandits reportedly asked the thirteen individuals—twelve women and one man—to identify themselves and their family ties. In a strange show of “mercy,” the assailants decided to release one person for every two individuals taken from the same household.
Names of abducted victims emerge as tension rises
By the end of the selection process in the forest, seven people regained their freedom and returned to the village. However, the gunmen whisked the remaining six victims away to an unknown hideout within the bushes.
The victims still in captivity have been identified as Asabe Zakariya, Inno Ibrahim, Inno Musa, Umma Yusuf, Safina Abdullahi, and Saminu Jijji. Their families are currently in a state of mourning as they await any communication regarding ransom or release.
Bandits demand amnesty and threaten daily attacks
The most chilling part of the raid was the ultimatum left behind by the criminal gang. Before disappearing into the forest, the bandits threatened to launch daily attacks on Gazau village unless the residents sought “amnesty” from them.
This demand for local amnesty highlights the deteriorating security situation in the rural parts of Sokoto State. It suggests a bold attempt by these non-state actors to impose their own authority over the defenseless villagers.
Government and police remain silent on the incident
Efforts to reach the Chairman of Isa Local Government Area, Sharehu Abubakar Kamarawa, have proved abortive as his phone lines remained unreachable. This lack of communication from local leadership has added to the frustration of the grieving community.
Similarly, the Sokoto State Police Command is yet to issue a formal statement on the abduction. The Command’s spokesman, DSP Ahmad Rufai, did not respond to calls or messages at the time of filing this report.
