We are not aware of abduction of 150 persons in Sokoto – Police

The Sokoto State Police Command says that it is not aware of the alleged abduction of over 150 persons in the Sabon Birni area of the state after the gruesome murder of Sarkin Gobir Gatawa, Isa Muhammad Bawa.

A professor at Usman Dan Fodio University, Bello Bada, told Radio France International (RFI) Hausa on Saturday that the abductions took place between the time of the Emir’s killing and last Friday.

Bada also attributed the banditry problem to various factors.

He noted that this is not the first time that prominent leaders have been attacked, but it is the first time that an Emir has been gruesomely killed.

However, Assistant Superintendent of Police Ahmed Rufai, spokesperson for the State Police, said the police are not aware of the alleged abductions.

Rufai said the police can only confirm cases reported to them and that this particular case has not been reported and the police have no information about it.

He, however, noted that the Sabon Birni axis and other parts of Sokoto East Senatorial district have been faced with serious security threats, with many residents under threat of attack that some find it difficult to report cases to security agencies.