Scores of traders, farmers, and travellers have been abducted along a busy route leading to the Sabon Birni weekly market in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State, following a coordinated armed attack on Wednesday morning.
Residents said the attackers blocked a major road linking Sabon Birni with surrounding communities before launching the assault at about 10 a.m., disrupting movement along the route widely used on market days.
An eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the assailants arrived on nearly 20 motorcycles and opened fire indiscriminately, triggering panic among traders and commuters heading to the weekly market.
“We were sitting near the bridge when we saw them approaching on motorcycles. They started shooting from different directions and abducted travellers, farmers and some women working on nearby farms,” the witness said.
According to him, at least 20 people were taken away during the attack. He described how victims were forcibly moved into the bush, with some taken away on motorcycles while others were marched on foot after the attackers exhausted space on their bikes.
“When the motorcycles became full, the bandits tied some victims together in pairs and marched them into the bush on foot. Men were tied to men using their clothes, while women were tied together with their hijabs. Gunshots were everywhere,” he added.
Families of victims have since begun searching for missing relatives. A resident identified as Abdurrashid said his mother was among those abducted while working on a nearby farm to support the family.
“My mother was working on the farm when they took her. Because my father is sick, she is the one taking care of us. I have now taken my younger siblings to stay with our grandparents,” he said.
Another community member said the attackers operated around Mangwaron Bullun, a junction connecting several surrounding villages, including Katsira, Zakin Ganga, Maskin Wuya, Garin Dango, Garin Gardi, Garin Bage, and Zududu, among others. He noted that the gunmen did not enter Sabon Birni town itself.
The exact number of abducted persons remains unclear, as many families are still trying to account for relatives who failed to return from the market day activities. Residents fear the toll may rise as more people are reported missing in the aftermath of the attack.
Wednesday is the main market day in Sabon Birni, drawing traders from across surrounding communities, making the route a busy commercial corridor that was thrown into chaos by the incident.
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