Suspected bandits have killed an imam and three other residents during an attack on Illela Dawagware village in Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The attackers also reportedly abducted 12 residents in the raid, which occurred around 12:20 a.m. on Sunday.
Residents told Daily Trust that the gunmen, estimated to be about 30 in number, arrived on nine motorcycles and operated in the community for about 30 minutes, firing sporadically.
A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said villagers attempted to resist the attack but were overpowered by the heavily armed assailants.
According to the source, the bandits stormed the residence of the village imam, killed him and three other persons before moving from house to house and abducting 12 residents.
“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 deceased were identified as Mallam Liman Lawwali Na Ande, Lawwali Na Lami and Abdullahi Haruna. The identity of the fourth victim could not be immediately confirmed.
Among those abducted were Amiru, Hauwa, Awwalu and nine others.
The source added that one Alhaji Samaila sustained a gunshot injury that fractured his hand and is currently receiving treatment at a health facility in Sokoto.
Residents also accused security operatives of failing to respond to distress calls during the attack.
“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 resident described the incident as the 24th attack on the village, recalling that bandits had, two years earlier, killed seven members of the same family inside a mosque.
“We had not experienced another attack until now. Just last Sunday, some displaced residents returned to the village after spending about two years away,” he said.
Another resident who attended the burial of the imam said fear had gripped the community, forcing many villagers to abandon their homes at night.
“They will now sleep at the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Goronyo because they fear another attack,” he said.
The residents appealed to the federal and Sokoto State governments, as well as security agencies, to take urgent steps to end the recurring attacks and restore security in the area.