By Peter Omopo
The father of a bride kidnapped alongside her friends in Chacho village, Wurno Local Government Area of Sokoto State, has confirmed that the abductors reached out to the community two days after the attack but made no ransom demand.
Speaking on Monday, Malam Umaru Chacho said the gunmen, who seized 13 people—11 women and two men—during wedding preparations, insisted on speaking only with the village’s traditional ruler.
“Yes, they have contacted us,” he said. “When they called, they said we should connect them with the traditional ruler of the town, but we refused. We asked them to speak with us instead, but they declined, insisting they wanted to speak to our traditional ruler.”
The attack left several residents injured. Umaru revealed that a relative who attempted to resist the gunmen “sustained a serious gunshot wound and narrowly survived.”
He expressed deep concern over the deteriorating security situation in Chacho, noting that the village has suffered repeated assaults over the years.
“Over 30 people have been killed here in the last five years since these bandits started disturbing our community,” he said.
Umaru also lamented the lack of essential infrastructure, describing Chacho as a densely populated rural community that has long been neglected by authorities.
“Despite our population, we don’t have a police outpost, we don’t have a functional hospital, and many essential amenities are missing. This has made life even harder for our people,” he added.
Communities in Wurno and neighbouring areas continue to grapple with rampant banditry, kidnappings, and raids, with residents saying inadequate security presence has emboldened criminal elements, especially during social gatherings.
