Gunmen suspected to be bandits have killed an Imam and three other persons and abducted 12 residents an attack on Illelar Dawagware village in Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

Residents said the attackers invaded the village around 12:20am, on Sunday, arriving on about nine motorcycles.

The assailants, estimated to be about 30 in number, reportedly operated for about 30 minutes, shooting sporadically.

A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said villagers attempted to repel the attackers but were overpowered.

According to him, the bandits stormed the residence of the village imam, killed him and three others, before moving from house to house and abducting 12 persons.

“They killed our imam, his neighbour and one other. They later abducted 12 people, comprising eight women and four men,” he said.

The victims killed were identified as Mallam Liman Lawwali Na Ande, Lawwali Na Lami and Abdullahi Haruna.

Those abducted include Amiru, Hauwa, Awwalu and nine others.

The source further said Alhaji Samaila sustained a gunshot injury that fractured his hand and is currently receiving treatment at a health facility in Sokoto.

Residents also accused security operatives of failing to respond to distress calls during the attack.

“We called security personnel in Goronyo for reinforcement and even offered to provide money for fuel, but they did not come,” the source alleged.

He said the latest attack was the 24th recorded assault on the village.

“They came two years ago and killed seven people from the same family inside a mosque. We had not experienced another attack until now. Just last Sunday, some displaced residents returned to the village after spending about two years away,” he said.

Another resident who attended the burial of the imam said fear had gripped the community, adding that many villagers had resolved not to spend the night in the village again.

“They will now sleep at the IDPs camp in Goronyo because they fear another attack,” he said.

The residents appealed to the federal and state governments, as well as security agencies, to take urgent steps to end the recurring attacks.

Efforts to speak with the spokesperson of the Sokoto state Police Command, DSP Ahmad Rufai, remained unsuccessful as calls and text messages sent to him were not responded to as of the time of filing this report. (Weekend Trust)

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