Suspected gunmen, believed to be bandits, kidnapped a traditional ruler, the Sarkin Gobie of Gatawa district in Sabon Birni Local Government Area, one of the troubled areas in the eastern senatorial zone of Sokoto State, on Sunday.
Confirming the incident, the spokesman of the Sokoto State Police Command, Assistant Superintendent of Police Ahmed Rufai, verified the abduction of the traditional ruler but could not provide details on how the abduction occurred.
Mr. Rufai stated, “Yes, a traditional ruler in the state was reportedly kidnapped alongside other persons. I will get back to you as soon as I get the details of the incident.”
A family source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the traditional ruler was abducted alongside his son while travelling from Sokoto to Sabon Birni Local Government Area. The source also mentioned that over five other people were abducted on the same day.
“When the bandits sighted the traditional ruler’s vehicle, they started shooting at it. They hit his tyre, forcing the vehicle to stop. The assailants then attacked and kidnapped the traditional ruler and his son,” the source recounted.
Family members and other community residents are appealing to the government to do everything possible to ensure the release of the victims from the bandits’ den.
Efforts to reach the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Col. Ahmed Usman, were unsuccessful, as calls and messages sent to him were not replied to at the time of filing this report.
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