In separate midnight attacks on three communities in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State, bandits killed about five people and kidnapped 22 others.
A source said that the attacks occurred between 11 pm on Tuesday and 12 am on Wednesday in Sabon Birni town, Dan Aduwa and Kwaren Gamba.
In Sabon Birni town, the gunmen attacked through Sabon Hegi quarters, an outskirt area, entering from the western side of a cemetery and shooting sporadically, causing panic in the communities.
He explained, “The attackers came in through Sabon Hegi and started shooting indiscriminately. People were running in different directions. Two people, identified as Abbas Sani and Bala Mai Laya Moriki, were killed, while eight others were abducted.”
According to him, a visually impaired man was among those abducted, adding that he was carried away and could not see what was happening.
The source explained that one of those killed and five of the abducted victims had travelled from Moriki in Zamfara State for fish business.
He stated that five injured victims are currently receiving treatment at the General Hospital in Sabon Birni.
Security operatives, he explained, arrived about 20 minutes after the attackers had fled.
In Dan Aduwa village, he said that the bandits attacked the area around midnight, abducting three people, including two bridesmaids and a man.
A resident linked the attack to earlier celebratory gunfire during a wedding.
He said some youths were firing locally made guns during a wedding and, shortly after, the bandits stormed the village and abducted three people.
He identified those abducted as Sabiu Saidu, Balira Halliru and Maryam Mansur.
Meanwhile, in Kwaren Gamba, the attackers reportedly arrived on motorcycles at about 11:05 pm, killing three people and abducting 11 others.
The member representing Sabon Birni North in the Sokoto State House of Assembly, Aminu Boza, confirmed the attacks but did not give casualty figures.
DSP Ahmad Rufai, the spokesman of the Sokoto State Police Command, when contacted, stated that he was yet to receive details from the Divisional Police Officer in Sabon Birni.