Sokoto Terror: Bandits Murder Chief Imam, Abduct Women in Deadly Raid

Bandits have carried out a deadly assault on Kuda-Kuda village in Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State, resulting in the death of the Chief Imam, Liman Audu, and three other individuals. Multiple residents were also abducted during the attack, which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, June 23, 2026.

According to residents who spoke to Daily Trust, the assailants stormed the village around 12:58 AM and operated for nearly two hours. During their operation, they engaged in sporadic shooting, rustled livestock, and caused widespread panic, forcing villagers to flee for safety. A resident, who wished to remain anonymous, recounted the terrifying experience: "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."

The attackers reportedly went from house to house, systematically abducting residents, primarily married women. Among the four confirmed deceased were Chief Imam Liman Audu, Yahaya Hasanu, Zahara Mu'azu, and Ibrahim Dayyabu. Three other victims sustained severe gunshot injuries, described as being shot in the chest with bullets exiting through their backs; their chances of survival were deemed low. Those abducted included Malam Shehu Farar Zaki, Yar Yamma, Khadija, and six additional individuals. A resident further detailed the brutality, stating that after invading the Chief Imam's residence and killing him, the bandits confronted three young men who refused to follow them into the forest, shooting them dead on the spot.

Kuda-Kuda villagers expressed profound frustration over the persistent lack of security intervention despite the community suffering repeated bandit raids over the years. One resident lamented that this latest incident marked the 11th attack on their community, highlighting their continued vulnerability and the unaddressed appeals for protection. This attack is part of a series of violent incidents plaguing the eastern parts of Sokoto State, where residents continue to appeal for a heightened security presence to safeguard lives and property. Efforts to obtain comments from DSP Ahmad Rufai, the spokesperson of the Sokoto State Police Command, and Col. Ahmed Usman (Rtd), Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, regarding the Kuda-Kuda incident were unsuccessful.

In a related development underscoring the severe security challenges in the region, two police officers were killed during a gun battle with armed bandits in Tureta Local Government Area of Sokoto State. ASP Ahmad Rufai, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, confirmed the incident, identifying the deceased officers as Inspector Redmo Ijenwa and Police Constable Nura Muhammad. Another officer, PC Abdulrazak Muhammad, sustained gunshot injuries. These officers were part of a joint security team comprising troops from the 8 Division of the Nigerian Army, police operatives, personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and members of the Community Guards Corps. This joint operation, conducted under the banner of "Operation Fansan Yamma," successfully thwarted the attackers' mission, leading to the rescue of 14 kidnapped victims and the recovery of stolen livestock and motorcycles. Rufai emphasized that this exercise is part of ongoing security efforts across Nigeria’s North-West aimed at countering banditry and restoring order in affected communities.