SOKOTO, NIGERIA — Suspected armed bandits reportedly disguised in women’s full Islamic hijabs to launch a deadly attack on Mallamawar Yari village in the Rabah Local Government Area of Sokoto State, killing one person and abducting five others.
The incident occurred on Saturday night, sparking panic among residents. According to security analyst Bakatsine, the assailants wore the religious garments to move freely and avoid suspicion before launching the assault.
The disguise allowed them to blend into the terrain before they struck the community in Gawakuke Ward.
While social media reports initially highlighted the method of disguise, the Sokoto State Police Command has provided official details on the casualty figure. The command’s spokesperson, DSP Ahmed Rufai, confirmed the attack but dismissed the claim that the bandits used hijabs as disguises.
“The attack is true, but they didn’t disguise. Five people were kidnapped, and one person was killed,” Rufai stated.
He identified the abducted victims as three women and two men.
DSP Rufai assured that security agencies are already working to track down the perpetrators and rescue the victims. “Security operatives have intensified efforts in the area following the incident, while investigations are ongoing,” he added.
This attack is the latest in a series of security breaches across Sokoto State, particularly in border local government areas where banditry and kidnapping have forced many residents to flee their ancestral homes,
[Internal link: Read more about the security challenges in Sokoto State].
Authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements to the relevant security agencies as efforts continue to curb the wave of violence in the region
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