Bandits Strike Again in Sokoto, Kidnap Over 150 People Amid Mourning

In a tragic recurrence of violence, the community of Gobir in Sokoto State, still grieving the recent murder of their Emir, Alhaji Isa Muhammad Bawa, has been struck again by bandits who have kidnapped over 150 residents.

This disturbing development was revealed by Professor Bello Bada during an interview with Radio France International (RFI) Hausa Service, which was monitored in Kaduna on Sunday. Professor Bada criticized what he described as systemic failures that have emboldened the bandits, even recalling a time when they had the audacity to threaten the abduction of former President Muhammadu Buhari while he was in office.

“This is not the first time a prominent monarch has been attacked,” Professor Bada remarked, “but it is the first time a prominent monarch has been murdered.”

He further described the killing of the Emir as a national humiliation, calling for a renewed focus on addressing the escalating violence. He cited previous attacks, including an attempt on the Emir of Potiskum and the near-fatal assault on the Emir of Kauran Namoda, whose entourage was killed by bandits.

“In Zuru, another monarch was slaughtered by these criminals. Yet, these heinous acts are quickly forgotten until the bandits strike again,” Professor Bada lamented. He warned that ignoring such incidents allows them to become a “recurring decimal.”

Meanwhile, security analyst Dr. Yahuza Getso has called for accountability among the security forces, criticizing their complacency in the lead-up to the Emir of Gobir’s murder after he spent over three weeks in captivity. Dr. Getso warned of growing tensions in the Gobir community, where the bandits’ activities have deepened divisions among the Gobirawa, Hausa, and Fulani people.

“The leaders of these bandits terrorizing the Northwest are well known. Their origins, their families, and even those who provide them with logistics are all known,” Dr. Getso asserted. “The security forces have the expertise to confront this problem and bring it to an end, but it seems the political leaders are not providing the necessary support.”

The situation in Sokoto remains tense, as the community grapples with the loss of their Emir and the ongoing threat of banditry.