Terrorists, in the early hours of Saturday, kidnapped 15 Almajiris, and a woman in Gidan Bakusa community in Gada local government area of Sokoto state.
ASHENEWS reports that the Gada local government area is one of the 23 councils that has suffered from the activities of terrorism in Eastern Sokoto.
The kidnap of the Almajiris happened while the state government inaugurated 2,596 Community Guards Corps to complement the efforts of security agencies in combating banditry in the state.
Narrating the incident to ASHENEWS in a phone call, the proprietor of the Qur’anic school, Abubakar Bakusa, said the terrorists, who had earlier abducted a housewife from another community, invaded his Islamic school where about 70 Almajiris are enrolled for Qur’anic education.
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According to him, in a bid to scamper for safety, 15 of the Almajiris were kidnapped by the terrorists.
“They arrived our village with the woman, who was shouting for help. They started shooting sporadically to scare us; they even shot one person who is currently receiving treatment at the Gada Hospital,” Bukasa said.
“This is new to our village; they have never invaded our village. This is the first time and they have abducted my under aged pupils who are here from different communities to learn the Qur’an.”
Corroborating Abubakar’s narration, the spokesperson for the state Police Command ASP Ahmad Rufa’i, told ASHENEWS that the Gada Divisional Police Officer (DPP) had confirmed the incident to him.
According to Rufa’i, the Command had despatched a tactical squad headed by the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of operations to the area.
“The Almajiri boys, who hail from different communities, were in Bukasa village for Qur’anic education. So far, 15 of the nearly 70 pupils have been identified to have been kidnapped, including a housewife, earlier abducted from another village.
“The Commissioner of Police has despatched an Assistant Commissioner l in charge of operations to the area, to rescue the kidnap victims,” he told ASHENEWS.
He however lamented that the lack of access roads to some villages, saying this is one of the major challenges faced by security agencies in the state.
Also speaking with ASHENEWS in a telephone conversation, the State House of Assembly member representing Gada East constituency, Kabiru Dauda Gada said, he received a call from a resident of the area at 2am on Saturday, informing him of the incident, and seeking the intervention of security agencies.
“I received a call on the incident and my people in the community wanted me to facilitate the intervention of security agencies. It was late night and the network was terrible.
“I did my best to inform relevant security agencies, and the local government council officials. I have been assured that the agencies are doing their best to rescue the abducted Almajiri boys, and the woman,” he said.
With additional report from Vanguard.
