By Emmanuel Onyedika
Suspected bandits have killed four people, including a village Imam, and abducted 12 residents during an overnight attack on Illela Dawagware village in Goronyo LGA, Sokoto State.
Residents said the attackers stormed the community shortly after midnight on Sunday, riding on about nine motorcycles. They operated for nearly 30 minutes, firing indiscriminately before fleeing with their captives.
Eyewitnesses reported that the assailants first attacked the residence of the Imam, killing him before moving through the community. Victims were identified as Mallam Liman Lawwali Na Ande, Lawwali Na Lami, and Abdullahi Haruna, while the identity of the fourth victim is yet to be confirmed.
“They killed our Imam, his neighbour and another resident. They later abducted 12 people, comprising eight women and four men,” a resident said, alleging that repeated distress calls to security personnel during the attack went unanswered.
Among those abducted are Amiru, Hauwa, and Awwalu, alongside nine others. Another villager, Alhaji Samaila, sustained gunshot injuries and is receiving treatment at a medical facility in Sokoto.
Residents described the incident as part of a recurring wave of bandit violence in the area, recalling that seven members of a family were killed inside the village mosque during a similar attack two years ago. Many villagers now spend nights at the IDP camp in Goronyo for fear of further attacks.
As of the time of filing this report, neither security agencies nor the Sokoto State Government had issued an official statement on the incident.