Bandits kill worshiper, abduct others in Sokoto mosque
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Bandits struck Marnona village in Wurno Local Government Area of Sokoto State in the early hours of Sunday, killing one worshiper and abducting several others during morning prayers.
The attackers, reportedly armed with sophisticated weapons, stormed the mosque at dawn and opened fire indiscriminately on worshipers, sending the community into panic.
Residents fled in fear as gunshots echoed across the village.
Confirming the incident, the Sokoto State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Isah Achida, condemned the assault as “barbaric” and “an act of cowardice.”
Targeting innocent worshipers in a sacred place is a direct attack on our humanity and our faith.
“The perpetrators must be brought to justice, and our people must remain united to defeat this menace,” Achida said.
Achida assured residents that the state government, in collaboration with security agencies, is working to curb banditry across Sokoto, while expressing sympathy to the bereaved families and wishing the injured a swift recovery.
Security sources believe the assailants may have come from camps hidden in the forests bordering Sokoto and Zamfara states, notorious for harbouring armed groups.
The attackers fled before security operatives arrived at the scene.
The incident adds to a string of violent attacks in Sokoto East, where communities have repeatedly suffered raids, kidnappings, and killings in recent months.
Locals have been calling for greater military presence and coordinated operations to restore peace.
Police spokesperson, DSP Ahmed Rufai, said the command has launched an investigation and will issue a detailed statement soon.
Meanwhile, tension remains high in Marnona and surrounding villages as security patrols intensify and local vigilante groups join forces with law enforcement to guard against further attacks.
For now, villagers are left counting their losses, their prayers disrupted by the growing shadow of insecurity that hangs over Sokoto’s rural communities.
