Suspected bandits attacked Illela Dawagware village in Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State, killing an imam and three other residents before abducting 12 people. The assault occurred shortly after midnight on Sunday, with the assailants arriving on about nine motorcycles.
Attack Details and Casualties
The group, believed to number around 30, opened fire indiscriminately and remained in the village for about half an hour before fleeing, according to Daily Trust reports. A resident who requested anonymity said villagers tried to resist but could not match the bandits' firepower.
“They killed our imam, his neighbour and one other. They later abducted 12 people, comprising eight women and four men,” the source said. The deceased were identified as Mallam Liman Lawwali Na Ande, Lawwali Na Lami, and Abdullahi Haruna. Among those abducted were Amiru, Hauwa, Awwalu, and nine other residents.
Another villager, Alhaji Samaila, suffered a gunshot wound that fractured his hand and is receiving treatment at a medical facility in Sokoto.
Security Response Criticized
Residents accused security personnel of failing to respond despite repeated calls for help. “We called security personnel in Goronyo for reinforcement and even offered to provide money for fuel, but they did not come,” the source alleged. The resident described the latest assault as the 24th attack on the village, recalling that seven members of one family were killed inside a mosque during an earlier raid about two years ago. Some displaced residents had only returned to the community a week before the latest incident.
Community Fears and Displacement
Another resident who attended the imam's burial said many villagers decided to spend their nights at the internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in Goronyo due to fear of another attack. “They will now sleep at the IDPs camp in Goronyo because they fear another attack,” he said. Residents appealed to both the federal and Sokoto State governments, along with security agencies, to end the repeated attacks. Efforts to obtain a response from the Sokoto State Police Command were unsuccessful.
Related Violence in Niger State
In a separate incident, heavily armed bandits killed at least 16 vigilante members and abducted more than 40 residents in coordinated attacks across communities in Mashegu Local Government Area of Niger State. The attacks occurred between November 9 and November 13, forcing many villagers to flee their homes.
