Suspected bandits have killed an imam and three other residents during a midnight attack on Illela Dawagware village in Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The attack occurred around 12:20 a.m. on Sunday, with residents saying about 30 armed men arrived on nine motorcycles and operated in the village for nearly 30 minutes while firing gunshots.
According to residents, the attackers first stormed the home of the village imam before killing him and three others. They then went from house to house, abducting 12 residents, including eight women and four men.
A resident, who requested anonymity, said villagers attempted to repel the attackers but were overwhelmed by the gunmen.
"They killed our imam, his neighbour and two other persons. They later abducted 12 people, comprising eight women and four men," the resident said.
The victims killed in the attack were identified as Mallam Liman Lawwali Na Ande, Lawwali Na Lami and Abdullahi Haruna. The identity of the fourth victim had not been confirmed at the time of filing this report.
Residents also identified some of those abducted as Amiru, Hauwa and Awwalu, while the identities of the remaining nine victims were not immediately available.
One resident, Alhaji Samaila, sustained a gunshot injury that fractured his hand and is receiving treatment at a health facility in Sokoto.
Residents accused security personnel of failing to respond despite repeated distress calls.
"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 latest attack is said to be the 24th recorded assault on the village. Residents recalled that two years ago, bandits killed seven members of the same family inside a mosque before many villagers fled the community.
According to a resident, some displaced families had only returned to the village a week before the latest attack after spending nearly two years away.
Another resident who attended the burial of the imam said fear had spread across the community, with many villagers planning to spend their nights at the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Goronyo over concerns of another attack.
The residents called on the Federal Government, the Sokoto State Government and security agencies to strengthen security in the area and prevent further attacks.
