Armed bandits have abducted nine residents and left two others injured following a late-night attack on Chacho community in Wurno Local Government Area of Sokoto State, deepening concerns over persistent insecurity in Nigeria’s North-West.
The attack, which occurred around 11:00 p.m. on Wednesday, reportedly saw heavily armed assailants storm the quiet rural settlement, catching residents off guard as they slept. Eyewitness accounts indicate that the attackers infiltrated the community through a route linked to the notorious Sabon Birni forest, long identified as a haven for criminal gangs operating across the Sokoto axis.
During the raid, the gunmen abducted nine individuals, said to include seven women and two elderly men, while two other residents sustained injuries and are currently receiving medical treatment.
Residents described scenes of panic as sporadic gunfire forced many to flee into the night in search of safety. “We were sleeping when the alarm was raised… everyone started running,” one eyewitness recounted, highlighting the chaos and confusion that trailed the attack.
The Sokoto State Police Command has confirmed the incident. The Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmad Rufai, stated that security operatives have been deployed to the area, with tactical teams already working to track down the perpetrators and secure the release of the abducted victims. Authorities, however, noted that investigations are ongoing to verify the exact number of those taken.
Local sources have attributed the rising spate of attacks in the area to weak security presence, warning that rural communities remain highly vulnerable to incursions by bandits who exploit forest corridors and unguarded access routes.
The latest incident underscores the continuing security challenges in Sokoto and neighbouring states, where bandit groups have sustained a pattern of kidnappings, raids, and violent assaults on rural populations. Despite ongoing security operations, residents are increasingly calling for a more robust and sustained response to curb the menace and restore confidence in affected communities.




















