In a shocking incident that has highlighted the persistent security crisis in parts of Northern Nigeria, armed bandits stormed a village in Sokoto State and abducted a bride alongside twelve other individuals just hours before her wedding ceremony.
The Attack and Abduction
The assault took place in the early hours of Sunday in Chacho village, located within the Wurno Local Government Area. According to reports, the assailants invaded the community while preparations for a wedding were underway. They seized a total of 13 people: 11 women and 2 men. Among those taken was the bride herself, casting a dark shadow over what was meant to be a day of celebration.
The violence of the attack left several villagers injured. One relative of the bride, who bravely attempted to resist the kidnappers, sustained a serious gunshot wound and is fortunate to have survived.
Bandits' Unusual Demand
The father of the abducted bride, Malam Umaru Chacho, has confirmed that the kidnappers made contact with the families. However, in a departure from the typical pattern of immediately demanding ransom, the bandits presented a specific and unusual condition.
"Yes, they have contacted us," Umaru stated. "When they called, they said we should connect them with the traditional ruler of the town, but we refused. We asked them to speak with us instead, but they declined, insisting they wanted to speak to our traditional ruler."
This demand has raised questions and concerns, as the bandits have not yet communicated any ransom figure, focusing their initial interaction solely on accessing the community's traditional authority.
A Community in Despair
Malam Umaru Chacho expressed profound distress over the deteriorating security situation that has plagued his community for years. He provided a grim tally of the violence, revealing that over 30 people have been killed in Chacho in the last five years since the bandits began their reign of terror.
Beyond the insecurity, he lamented the severe neglect faced by the large rural settlement. The community lacks basic infrastructure, which exacerbates their vulnerability.
"Despite our population, we don't have a police outpost, we don't have a functional hospital, and many essential amenities are missing. This has made life even harder for our people," he said.
Residents of Wurno and neighboring areas have endured persistent security challenges, with banditry, kidnappings, and raids becoming a recurrent nightmare. The absence of adequate security forces has emboldened criminal groups, making villages particularly vulnerable during social gatherings like weddings and festivals.
Chacho village, one of the largest in the region, has repeatedly called for government intervention. Their pleas include the establishment of a police post and improved healthcare services, appeals that have so far gone unanswered as another tragedy strikes at the heart of the community.
