The father of the bride, who was kidnapped with her friends in Chacho village, Wurno Local Government Area, Sokoto State, claims the abductors contacted the community two days after the incident.
Malam Umaru Chacho, the bride’s father, said on Monday that the suspected terrorists who raided the village and abducted 13 people—11 women and two men—called the families but did not demand a ransom.
“Yes, they have contacted us. 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,” he said.
The incident occurred amid wedding preparations and harmed numerous villagers.
According to Umaru, a relative of the bride who sought to oppose the abductors received a grievous gunshot wound and nearly survived.
Umaru voiced serious concern about the deteriorating security situation in the neighborhood, citing years of frequent attacks.
“Over 30 people have been killed here in the last five years since these bandits started disturbing our community,” he said.
Aside from the insecurity, he criticized the poor quality of basic infrastructure in Chacho, a huge rural settlement that he claims has long been ignored 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 said.
Wurno and surrounding areas have faced continuous security issues in recent years, with banditry, kidnappings, and rural raids becoming common.
Residents believe a lack of effective security has empowered criminal gangs and made villages more vulnerable, particularly during social events.
Chacho village, one of the main villages in the area, has consistently requested government assistance, including the creation of a police station and increased healthcare services.
Meanwhile, authorities have yet to issue an official statement regarding the current abduction, and relatives are still waiting for further communication from the kidnappers.
