Were 150 People Abducted in Sokoto? Police Break Silence

Were 150 People Abducted in Sokoto? Police Break Silence

  • The Sokoto police command has stated that there is no official report of 150 residents being abducted in Sabon Birni LGA, despite circulating claims
  • Police spokesperson Rufai Ahmed mentioned that senior officers have been present in Sabon Birni since the Emir of Gobir's killing on August 21,
  • Ahmed clarified that while incidents of banditry and kidnapping are acknowledged, the police cannot act on unreported cases

Sabon Birni, Sokoto state - The Sokoto police command has stated that there is no official report confirming the alleged abduction of 150 residents in Sabon Birni LGA.

Speaking on Monday, August 26, the police spokesperson, Rufai Ahmed, mentioned that senior officers have been present in Sabon Birni since the bandits killed the Emir of Gobir on August 21.

Police speak on abduction of 150 in Sokoto
Police speak on abduction of 150 in Sokoto Photo credit: @Naija_PR
Source: Twitter

Reports have circulated claiming that over 150 people were kidnapped from Sabon Birni villages following the assassination of Isah Bawa, the Emir of Gobir, in Gatawa town, The Punch reported.

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Ahmed said:

“In this part of the state, nobody is denying the incidents of banditry and kidnapping, but there is no way police can know an incident of kidnapping that is not reported to the police."

Police denies abduction 150 individuals in Sokoto

As reported by TheCable, the police while speaking directly to the kidnapping in Sokoto state, Police said:

“There is nothing like kidnapping 150 people. If so, be it, they have been kidnapped; nobody from the community came to report to the police that people have been kidnapped.
“When people come to report to the police, we immediately move to the area to confirm.
"Most of them are under threat that if they report, they (bandits) will come for them again. So, they will rather remain mute. Sometimes, when we go there, they even deny it.

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“But nonetheless, there is nothing like 150 people kidnapped; we don’t have that official report."

Sokoto: Governor Aliyu might not win 2nd term

Legit.ng earlier reported that Sokoto state governor Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto may be one of the one-term governors who could not return to office in their second term.

This is as the governor removed 15 emirs in office in less than one year of his tenure, citing various reasons for his action.

Months after, MURIC raised the alarm that the governor was plotting to dethrone the Emir of Sokoto, a development that attracted wide condemnation.

Proofread by Kola Muhammed, journalist and copyeditor at Legit.ng

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Ezra Ukanwa avatar

Ezra Ukanwa (Editor) Ezra Ukanwa is a Reuters-certified journalist with over 5 years of professional experience. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication from Anchor University, Lagos. Currently, he is the Politics and Current Affairs Editor at Legit.ng, where he brings his expertise to provide incisive, impactful coverage of national events. Ezra was recognized as Best Campus Journalist at the Anchor University Communications Awards in 2019 and is also a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM). Contact him at: ezra.ukanwa@corp.legit.ng or +2349036989944

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