What was meant to be a night of joy in Chacho village, Wurno Local Government Area, turned into a scene of fear and anguish as armed bandits stormed the community and abducted a bride, her bridesmaids, and several well-wishers late Saturday night.
Residents say the young bride, who was preparing for her wedding ceremony scheduled for the following morning, was taken alongside other women who had gathered to support her.
The attackers, according to eyewitnesses, struck just as members of the household were retiring for the night.
Chacho village, the hometown of the Sokoto State Commissioner for Special Duties, Alhaji Shehu Alhaji Chacho, has now become the latest community to fall victim to the rising wave of kidnappings sweeping across the state.
The abduction comes barely hours after another ransom reportedly consisting of four million naira and a motorcycle, was paid to secure the release of victims previously held in Rabah town, headquarters of Rabah LGA and birthplace of the late Premier of Northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto.
A resident of Chacho, who pleaded anonymity for fear of reprisal, confirmed the incident. He said the gunmen invaded the community at about midnight, shooting sporadically before whisking away the bride and others.
He described the scene as ‘heartbreaking’, noting that women, children, and elderly persons fled to nearby bushes as the marauders operated freely for several minutes without resistance.
Efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police Ahmed Rufai, proved unsuccessful, as he declined to pick up the phone after several calls or respond to a text message sent to verify the attack as of the time of filing this report.
The state chairman of the APC, Hon. Isah Sadeeq Achida, confirmed the incident but failed to confirm whether a Bride was among those abducted at the time of the attack.
‘Some residents of the village were abducted, but I don’t have the exact number at present’, says the APC chairman.
The source said residents of Chacho have been living in fear due to repeated attacks in surrounding communities, adding that the latest abduction has left many traumatized, especially families preparing for the wedding.
He explained that community members had hoped the recent ransom paid in Rabah would bring some relief or signal a reduction in criminal activities, but the renewed onslaught has only deepened their anxiety.
According to him, the bandits have not yet contacted the family of the bride or the village leadership to make any demands, leaving relatives in a state of confusion and helplessness.
As the community awaits further information, fear, grief, and uncertainty continue to hang over Chacho village, once peaceful, now struggling under the weight of insecurity that has become all too familiar across parts of Sokoto State.
Authorities are yet to issue an official statement, but residents are pleading for urgent government intervention, saying they have been left vulnerable for too long.
