Suspected bandits have killed the Chief Imam of Kuda-Kuda village in Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State and three other residents during a deadly midnight raid that also saw several villagers, including women, abducted.

Residents said the attackers stormed the community at about 12:58 a.m., shooting sporadically and causing panic among villagers. The assailants reportedly operated for nearly two hours, moving from house to house while rustling livestock and abducting residents.

The Chief Imam, identified as Liman Audu, was among those killed in the attack. The other victims were identified as Yahaya Hasanu, Zahara Mu’azu, and Ibrahim Dayyabu.

According to community sources, the gunmen first targeted the residence of the Chief Imam before attacking other parts of the village. Witnesses said some residents fled into nearby bushes to escape the assault, while others were forcibly taken away by the attackers.

Several villagers were reportedly abducted during the raid, with residents claiming that many of the victims were women.

Among those said to have been kidnapped are Malam Shehu Farar Zaki, Yar Yamma, and Khadija, alongside several others whose identities were yet to be confirmed.

The attack has sparked renewed concerns over the security situation in parts of Sokoto State, where rural communities continue to face recurring threats from armed bandit groups. Residents lamented the absence of immediate security intervention and called on authorities to strengthen measures to protect lives and property.

As of the time of filing this report, security agencies had not issued an official statement on the incident. Authorities are expected to launch efforts to rescue the abducted victims and track down those responsible for the attack. Visit www.jocomms.com for more news.