Bandits have kidnapped nine residents and wounded two others in Chacho community, Wurno Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
A family member of one of the victims, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the assailants stormed the village at about 11:00 pm on Wednesday.
He stated that the gunmen entered through a pathway connecting the settlement to the notorious Sabon Birni forest, widely regarded as a hideout for bandits.
“We were sleeping outside when someone raised the alarm that bandits had attacked our village. We immediately fled for our lives.
“We heard gunshots from another part of the community, as our house is located at the centre of the village,” he said.
He further disclosed that the attackers abducted seven women and two elderly men during the operation, while two other residents were injured and are currently undergoing treatment.
Residents decried the increasing incidents of bandit attacks in the community, blaming the situation on the lack of adequate security presence.
The Police Public Relations Officer in Sokoto, Ahmad Rufai, confirmed the incident but noted that the police were still verifying the exact number of victims abducted.
