Armed bandits have killed the chief imam of Kuda-Kuda village in Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto state, along with three other residents, in a predawn raid that lasted nearly two hours. Several others were abducted during the attack, which occurred on Wednesday, June 24, according to a report by Daily Trust.
Attack Details: Victims and Abductions
The cleric, identified as Liman Audu, was among those killed. Other victims named by residents include Zahara Mu'azu, Yahaya Hasanu, and Ibrahim Dayyabu. Those abducted include Yar Yamma, Malam Shehu Farar Zaki, Khadija, and six other residents.
A resident who spoke on condition of anonymity said: “We were keeping vigil when we suddenly heard gunshots from different directions. We ran home, woke our families and fled towards the outskirts of the village to save our lives.” The resident alleged that the attackers moved from house to house, abducting several people, mostly married women.
Residents Decry Lack of Security Response
Residents expressed frustration over the absence of a timely security response during the attack. One resident claimed the latest incident was the 11th attack on the community, highlighting continued vulnerability despite repeated appeals for protection.
Another resident confirmed that the attackers first invaded the chief imam's residence and killed him before encountering three young men. “After killing the Imam, they met three youths and asked them to follow them. When the youths refused, the bandits shot and killed them on the spot,” the resident said.
Efforts to obtain comments from Ahmed Rufai, spokesperson of the Sokoto police command, were unsuccessful as calls, text messages, and WhatsApp messages were not responded to at the time of reporting.
Broader Insecurity Crisis in Nigeria
Nigeria's insecurity crisis continues to worsen, with armed groups targeting vulnerable communities. Soft targets including schools, churches, and mosques have been particularly at risk, especially in rural areas with limited state security presence. Armed groups initially limited operations to the north but have begun spreading through forest corridors to attack targets in the southwest, according to Al Jazeera.
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Christopher Musa, the Minister of Defence, said the Tinubu-led administration was making deliberate efforts to include VeryDarkMan (VDM) and selected social media influencers in military operations across conflict-affected regions, enabling them to gain firsthand insight into challenges faced by troops on the frontlines. The minister disclosed this at the Nigerian People’s Strategic Conference and Defence Exhibition 2026 held in Abuja.
