A bride-to-be and her bridesmaid have been seized by suspected bandits in a new assault on Chacho village in Wurno Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The attack unfolded at about 1:30 a.m. on Sunday when heavily armed men invaded the settlement, whisking away the bride, her friend, and eight additional residents.
Almost all the abducted victims are women, with only one male among them. One person was also injured during the incident and is currently undergoing treatment.
Residents told our reporter that the bride had been preparing for her wedding set to take place later that same morning when the attackers arrived.
A villager, who requested anonymity, described the ordeal as heartbreaking.
He said her long-awaited wedding was scheduled for this morning, but instead, she and her bridesmaids were taken away.
The resident added that security agencies were alerted during the invasion, but they arrived more than an hour after the gunmen had escaped—a delay that has deepened the community’s anger and despair.
“We are calling on the government to take its responsibility seriously and protect the lives and property of citizens,” he added.
Sokoto State Police Command spokesperson, DSP Ahmad Rufa’i, verified the attack, stating that early intelligence had been gathered and more information was still being compiled.
This latest abduction adds to the growing list of mass kidnappings troubling Nigeria in recent weeks.
Earlier on Sunday, armed individuals also stormed a church in Kogi State, abducting a pastor and his wife.
The assault on the newly established Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Ejiba, Yagba West Local Government Area, occurred right in the middle of Sunday service.
The community was reported to have descended into panic as gunmen launched their attack on the congregation.
According to a resident, the sudden gunfire forced worshippers to flee in all directions. The pastor, popularly known as Orlando, was taken alongside his wife and several church members.
What You Should Know
This incident highlights the surge in coordinated abductions occurring across northern Nigeria, further underscoring the heightened insecurity faced by rural communities.
Governments at both state and federal levels say security reinforcements, intelligence sharing, community policing initiatives, and rapid-response deployments are being strengthened to curb attacks.
Despite these efforts, residents continue to call for faster action and more visible security presence to prevent further tragedies.
