JUST-IN: Bandits Storm Sokoto, Kidnap Tsangaya Students

• Shot one person and abducted a woman
• The spokesman of the Sokoto State Police Command, ASP Ahmad Rufa’i, said he was not aware of the development but he would contact the Divisional Police Officer of the local government areas.

An unknown number of Tsangaya students in Gidan Bakuso in the Gada local government region of Sokoto state are reportedly abducted by bandits.

The pupils were taken from their school on Saturday at around one in the morning, according to Daily Trust.

The school’s proprietor, Liman Abubakar, revealed that while “we are still counting,” 15 pupils are still missing.

Abubakar claims that the bandits stormed the town at one in the morning, shot one person, and took a woman hostage.

“As they were leaving the town, they sighted our students rushing into their rooms and they kidnapped many of them.

“We have so far counted 15 who are missing and we are still searching for more,” he said

Abubakar added that this was not the first time the village was attacked by bandits.

The member, representing Gada-East Constituency at the state House of Assembly, Kabiru Dauda while confirming the attack, said he received a call from the village around 2am that it was invaded by bandits.

“I reached out to the local government authorities and security agencies and I am sure they are doing something about it,” he said.

It was also gathered that bandits attacked and killed three persons at Turba village in Isa Local Government Area of the state, including the village head.

A member representing, Isa Constituency, Habibu Modachi who confirmed the incident, believed it was a reprisal after security operatives raided bandits’ hideouts two days ago.

The spokesman of the Sokoto State Police Command, ASP Ahmad Rufa’i, said he was not aware of the development but he would contact the Divisional Police Officer of the local government areas and get back to our reporter.

The attack came at a time the state is witnessing the passing out of its Community Guards Corps, the initiative of the state government aimed at curtailing banditry.