Suspected bandits have killed the Chief Imam of Kuda-Kuda village in Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

The cleric identified as Liman Audu was killed alongside three persons, while others were abducted during the attack which happened in the early hours of Thursday.

Residents said the attackers stormed the village at about 12:58am and operated for nearly two hours, shooting sporadically, rustling livestock and causing residents to flee for safety.

A resident who spoke on condition of anonymity said the sound of gunfire sent panic across the community as villagers rushed to evacuate their families.

“We were keeping vigil when we suddenly heard gunshots from different directions. We ran home, woke our families and fled towards the outskirts of the village to save our lives, ” he said.

According to him, the attackers went from house to house, abducting residents, mostly married women.

“The three injured victims were shot in the chest and the bullets exited through their backs. As we speak, they have been taken to a hospital in Sokoto, but honestly, we are not optimistic about their chances of survival, ” he added.

The source identified the deceased as Chief Imam Liman Audu, Yahaya Hasanu, Zahara Mu”azu and Ibrahim Dayyabu.

Those abducted were said to include Malam Shehu Farar Zaki, Yar Yamma, Khadija and six others.

Another resident confirmed the killings, saying the attackers first invaded the Chief Imam”s residence and killed him before confronting three young men and ordering them to follow them into the forest.

“After killing the Imam, they met three youths and asked them to follow them. When the youths refused, the bandits shot and killed them on the spot, ” the resident said.

Residents lamented what they described as the lack of security intervention during the attack, noting that Kuda-Kuda community had suffered repeated bandit raids over the years.

One of the residents said the latest incident was the 11th attack on the community, expressing concern over the continued vulnerability of villagers despite repeated appeals for protection.

Efforts to obtain comments from the spokesperson of the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmad Rufai, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Col. Ahmed Usman (Rtd), were unsuccessful as calls, Whatsapp and text messages sent to them were not responded to as of the time of filing this report.

The latest attack is among a series of violent incidents recorded in eastern parts of Sokoto State, where residents have continued to appeal for increased security presence to protect lives and property.