In the Agboro community in the Patigi local government area of Kwara State, three members of the same family have reportedly been kidnapped by suspected bandits.
However, in the vicinity of Gatawa village in the Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State, soldiers from the Nigerian Army’s Operation Fansan Yanma initiated a rapid-response operation, preventing a terrorist strike.
Investigations reveal that the victims in Kwara were kidnapped on Sunday while returning from a visit of sympathy for a family member who had died a few days prior.
The names of the victims include Ayomide Moses, the deceased’s son, and Abiodun Abidemi and Abiodun Olumide, the deceased’s brothers, according to sources who spoke to journalists in Ilorin yesterday.
According to sources, the victims were native residents of Agboro, a village inside the local authority.
It was reported that on the fateful day, the three victims were abducted at around seven in the morning.
It was also discovered that the suspected bandits had brought the victims to Isanlu in Kogi State, although they had not yet contacted the victims’ families.
However, in an interview with reporters on Monday, a senior police officer with the Patigi Divisional Police Headquarters in Patigi who wished to remain anonymous verified the occurrence. “I am not aware ooo, I am not aware,” stated Mr. Adekimi Ojo, the state police commissioner, in response to the report.
In the meantime, the Nigerian Army’s Operation Fansan Yanma forces initiated a quick response operation in the vicinity of Gatawa village in the Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State, preventing a terrorist strike.
A group of armed bandits had opened fire on a local vigilance group, but the soldiers were able to stop them before they could enter the settlement by acting on intelligence. The region was “stable and under control” as a result of the quick military operation, according to a security source who wished to remain anonymous.
During the encounter, which happened around midnight, the bandits fired intermittently at the vigilantes and the locals. Following gunshot wounds, four members of the neighborhood vigilante group were transported to a local hospital for medical attention.
They are said to be doing better, and there were no civilian casualties throughout the conflict.
A rumor started spreading on social media during the army’s intervention that a mosque in Sabon Birni had been attacked, murdering an Imam and several worshippers while others were reportedly kidnapped. Local officials were prompted to correct the false information as the tale swiftly gained popularity.
Alhaji Ayuba Hashimu, the chairman of Sabon Birni LGA, strongly rejected the attack on the mosque in an interview with reporters. “I am not aware of any mosques that have been assaulted, let alone where an imam or worshippers have been killed. “The story is untrue,” he declared, stressing that no such incident took place within his jurisdiction.
Alhaji Aminu Boza, a local legislator who represents Sabon Birni in the Sokoto State House of Assembly, also reiterated the denial. “I have no idea how they came up with this tale, but it is untrue. “No mosque was attacked by bandits,” Boza informed reporters, advising people to confirm information before disseminating it.
The officials’ remarks coincide with a larger initiative by Sokoto authorities to stop the propagation of misleading tales, which frequently increase anxiety in already unstable areas. Hashimu and Boza both urged responsible reporting and cautioned that false information may impede continuing security activities.
According to the military source, the bandits who carried out the Gatawa raid were a part of a wider network that has been operating in the Sabon Birni forest belt. Following the army’s swift action, the attackers fled in the direction of the Dan-Kamarawa corridor, and troops are currently on follow-up patrols to deter further attacks.
The eastern districts of Sokoto have been the target of numerous bandit attacks, the most recent of which being this occurrence. The infamous bandit chief Dan Dari Biyar was killed by the army earlier this year in a separate clearance operation, which dealt a serious blow to the local criminal group.
Gatawa locals were relieved that a more serious catastrophe was avoided thanks to the army’s prompt action. Although there were gunfire, the army arrived in a matter of minutes. An anonymous resident claimed, “They saved our village.”
Operation Fansan Yanma of the Nigerian Army has increased its presence in Sokoto with the goal of destroying bandit strongholds and rebuilding public trust. Major General Idris Warrah, the operation’s commander, recently paid a visit to the 248 Recce Battalion in Illela and urged the soldiers to “crush the terrorists” while promising them better welfare.
Although the threat still exists, security specialists pointed out that the combination of military pressure and community cooperation has started to produce effects.
“Sustained operations are essential because bandits adapt quickly,” stated a regional security expert who wished to remain anonymous.
The Sokoto State administration has promised to back the military’s operations in the wake of the Gatawa raid, including offering logistical support and arming and training local vigilante organizations.
Local officials’ denial of the mosque bombing highlights how difficult it is to distinguish reality from fiction in war areas. Misinformation frequently causes panic and can spread quickly, particularly on digital media. Official news releases or announcements from the army are examples of verifiable sources that authorities are advising the public to trust.
In the meantime, Sokoto’s police have made headway in breaking up the financial networks that support banditry. The bandits’ logistical skills were further undermined in recent weeks with the arrest of three alleged financiers and the recovery of stolen motorcycles and rustled cattle.
Residents of Sabon Birni are urged to report any suspicious activities to security services as the community is still on high alert. In order to prevent such attacks, the army has promised to keep troops in the region.
Now that the Gatawa confrontation is over, the emphasis is on restoring confidence between the local population and security personnel. A ray of hope for stability in the area is provided by the bandits’ effective rejection and the officials’ prompt repudiation of the mosque story.
