The Sokoto State Command of the Nigeria Police Force has denied any awareness of the reported abduction of over 150 individuals in the state.
The alleged kidnappings were said to have occurred in the Sabon Birni region, shortly after the brutal killing of Sarkin Gobir Gatawa, Isa Muhammad Bawa.
Speaking in an interview with Radio France International (RFI) Hausa on Saturday, Professor Bello Bada of Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto, claimed that the abductions took place between the time of the late Emir’s murder and the previous Friday. Professor Bada pointed to various factors contributing to the rise in banditry, noting that while attacks on prominent leaders are not new, this incident marks the first time an Emir has been violently killed in the region.
However, in a telephone interview with Daily Trust, the spokesperson for the Sokoto State Police Command, ASP Ahmed Rufai, stated that the police are unaware of the reported mass abduction. ASP Rufai emphasized that the police can only confirm incidents that have been officially reported to them, and in this case, no such report has been filed.
Despite the denial, ASP Rufai acknowledged the severe security challenges facing the Sabon Birni area and other parts of the Sokoto East Senatorial District. He noted that many residents feel threatened and are often reluctant to report incidents to law enforcement, further complicating the efforts to address the ongoing crisis.
