Bandits have terminated the lives of 2 persons in Bageyi village and kidnapped 22 persons – mostly women and also displaced thousands of locals from 4 other villages of Rabah Local Government Area in Sokoto State.
The bandits stormed the villages recently, shooting sporadically. In the confusion that ensued, they took those they kidnapped into the bush even as they demanded 2 million naira ransom for each of their captives, a family member of one of those killed related bitterly.
Narrating the episode while in tears, the family member who preferred anonymity said her relative, Abdul Namaiwa was shot dead instantly and the second person that sustained gunshot equally died the next day.
In her tears, she bitterly placed a curse on their tormentors. She said, “Only God will judge and punish the killers, our oppressors and enemies of humanity who are now posing as bandits to return us to the Stone Age era of slavery. ”
Another reliable source from the affected area who also would not want his name on print for security reasons said, the villages affected include, Yola, Bageyi, Chiru-dikko, Chiro-Sabongari and Kaurami all in Rabah Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
He explained, “As I am talking to you now, we are in serious fear of the unknown because almost everybody from these affected villages have moved to take refuge in Rara ward of the local government.
The villager further said that the bandits come at will and take people as slaves while they demand for money that the villagers cannot pay, he added.
Continuing, the source said, the bandits took 15 persons on the first day of invasion and 7 others on the second day and they are now demanding 2 million naira for the release of each of them.
He revealed that the relatives of those kidnapped pleaded with the bandits saying some of those taken to the bush are almajiris and their Malam (teacher).
Nevertheless, the bandits refused to bend and said if the villagers would not pay ransom for the almajiris, then they would kill all of them including their malams.
All efforts made to hear from the local government caretaker chairman proved abortive.
