Confusion as gunmen abduct Sokoto monarch

Suspected gunmen believed to be bandits on Sunday kidnapped Sarkin Gobie, the traditional ruler of Gatawa District, Sabom Birni Local Government Area, one of the troubled areas in the Eastern senatorial zone of the state.

When contacted on Monday, the spokesman for the Sokoto State Police Command, Assistant Superintendent of Police Ahmed Rufai, confirmed the abduction of the traditional ruler, but could not provide details on how the abduction  took place.

Rufai said the command had yet to be furnished with details of the abduction, saying the traditional ruler was indeed abducted alongside other persons.

“Yes, a traditional ruler in the state was reportedly kidnapped alongside other persons.

“I will get back to you as soon as I get the details of the incident.” He was not able to get back to PUNCH Metro with the details as of the time of filing the report.

A family source who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the traditional ruler was abducted alongside his son while travelling from Sokoto to Sabon Birni Local Government Area.

He also said over five persons were abducted the day the traditional ruler was abducted.

The source said when the bandits sighted the traditional ruler’s vehicle they started shooting at the vehicle and in the process hit his tyre, which forced the vehicle to stop noting that the assailants attacked and kidnapped the traditional ruler with his son.

Family members and other community members, our correspondent gathered, were appealing to the government to do everything possible to ensure the release of the victims from the bandits den.

Efforts to get the Special Adviser to the Governor of Security Matters, Col. Ahmed Usman, were not successful as both calls and messages sent to him were not replied as of the time of filing this report.

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