Sarkin Gobie, the traditional ruler of Gatawa District, Sabom Birni Local Government Area, one of the troubled districts in the Eastern Senatorial Zone of Sokoto State, was kidnapped on Sunday by suspected gunmen.
When contacted on Monday, Assistant Superintendent of Police Ahmed Rufai, spokesman for the Sokoto State Police Command, acknowledged the traditional ruler’s kidnapping but did not provide any specifics about how it occurred.
Rufai stated that the command had not yet been provided with information of the kidnapping but that the traditional ruler was abducted together with others.
“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 reporters 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 and his son were kidnapped while travelling from Sokoto to Sabon Birni Local Government Area.
He also said that more than five people were kidnapped by the gunmen on the same day as the traditional ruler.
According to the source, when the gunmen spotted the traditional ruler’s vehicle, they began firing at it, hitting his tyre and forcing the vehicle to halt.
The assailants also attacked and kidnapped the traditional ruler and his son.
The family members and other community members were urging the government to do all necessary to facilitate the victims’ release from the kidnappers’ den.
Efforts to contact the Special Adviser to the Governor of Security Matters, Col. Ahmed Usman, were unsuccessful, since both calls and texts given to him were not returned as of the time of reporting this report.
