Terrorists from the Niger Republic have reportedly established a camp in the last few weeks in Goronyo, Sokoto, North West Nigeria.
At least 20 women and children were abducted by these terrorists on July 8 in Dinawa, Worno Local Government Area, according to residents. Muhammad Ali, the community chief, told HumAngle that the attack happened around 6:00 p.m., noting that the terrorists moved the captives to the recently established camp in Goronyo’s Gumdumi forest area.
“The armed terrorists invaded our village riding on more than 20 motorcycles. They are a new terrorist group from Niger Republic,” the community chief said.
The attack also resulted in the death of local farmer Garba Mamman, who was shot by the gunmen while trying to protect his wife from abduction. Residents identified some of the abducted as Ibrahim Mukhtari, Bashiru Mohammad, Nusaiba Marafa, and Maryam Garba.
“We already told security operatives about the new terrorist camp,” one resident said, requesting anonymity for safety reasons. “We observed the opening of the new camp in Gundumi forest when our innocent people were abducted and taken up there as hostages for 3 weeks.”
The new wave of attacks has caused the massive displacement of hundreds of women and children from their communities in the Worno area.
When HumAngle visited the Sokoto Jeredi Plaza on July 8, most displaced persons at the makeshift camp said they were no longer safe at home. They added that the attacks on their villages cost them their peace, property and sanity.
When contacted, Sanusi Abubakar, the Sokoto State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), neither answered calls placed on his line nor responded to messages seeking his comment on the matter.
HumAngle recently reported the influx of terrorists from the neighbouring Niger Republic into some northwestern states, including Sokoto, Zamfara and Katsina. The spate of violent attacks has spiked recently in the states due to the infiltration of terrorists leaving their country to find solace in Nigeria.
Sources told HumAngle that many of the terrorists from Niger Republic escaped from the military offensive against them but relocated to Niger to prompt a new wave of terror in a manner that compounds the ongoing criminal attacks in many Nigerian communities.
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