Sokoto, Nigeria – Thousands of residents from Gobir in Sokoto State have taken matters into their own hands, storming nearby forests in a bold attempt to confront bandits and rescue 150 abducted individuals. The residents, including both men and women, are also determined to recover the remains of their slain traditional ruler, Isa Mohammad Bawa, the Sarkin Gobir of Gatawa District.
This unprecedented action by the community comes in the wake of repeated failures by security forces to secure the release of their loved ones. The bandits had brutally murdered the district head after abducting, torturing, and dehumanizing him. The heinous act, reported on August 21, 2024, has sent shockwaves through the region, further escalating tensions.
Just days after the traditional ruler’s murder, the bandits launched another attack on Gobir town, kidnapping over 150 mourners, according to Professor Bello Bada of Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto. These incidents have stoked anger and frustration among the residents, prompting them to take drastic action.
Despite these reports, the Sokoto State Police Command, through its spokesperson ASP Ahmed Rufai, has denied any knowledge of the mass abduction, stating, “We’re not aware of the kidnapping of 150 people in the Gobir Emirate of Sokoto State.”
Undeterred by the official response, the residents were captured in a viral video marching into the forest, chanting war songs and invoking the name of Allah. Their resolve was clear as they vowed, “It’s fight to finish! It’s either us or them (bandits), no going back.”
The situation underscores the growing desperation in regions plagued by banditry and the declining confidence in state security apparatuses to effectively protect and serve their communities.