Bandits seize bride, 10 bridesmaids, baby in fresh Sokoto bandit attack

Bandits seize bride, 10 bridesmaids, baby in fresh Sokoto bandit attack

Bandits have launched another mass abduction in Sokoto State, seizing 13 women and a baby during an overnight raid on Chacho community — the latest in a series of large-scale kidnappings that have gripped northern Nigeria.

Residents said the attack occurred between Saturday night and early Sunday, with a bride and 10 bridesmaids among those abducted. The victims were taken from a home in the Zango neighbourhood, according to community member Aliyu Abdullahi, who spoke to AFP.

Nigeria is witnessing a sharp surge in kidnappings, as jihadist factions and heavily armed criminal gangs — widely known as bandits — escalate attacks across vast northern regions. The worsening situation has intensified pressure on government authorities. Earlier in the week, President Bola Tinubu declared a nationwide emergency, while international reactions continue to generate debate. US President Donald Trump drew criticism after warning of possible military action over what he labelled targeted killings of Christians by extremist groups.

READ ALSO:

• Gov Alex Otti, Sokoto officials visit detained IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu after terrorism conviction
• Osogbo indigenes demand 2026 governorship slot, reject deputy roles — Adeagbo Suraj
• Lekki Crackdown: LAGESC Smashes Illegal Oil Depot, Arrests 27 Suspects with Fake Naira

Abdullahi explained that a baby, the child’s mother, and another woman were also taken in the raid. According to local tradition, brides in northern Nigeria spend their first post-wedding night with their bridesmaids before the groom joins later — a custom exploited during the attack.

Chacho had suffered a similar invasion in October. “We had to pay ransom to secure freedom. Now, we are faced with the same situation,” Abdullahi said.

An intelligence briefing reviewed by AFP confirmed the latest attack, noting that Sokoto recorded the highest number of bandit abductions in the past year in November. The report suggested that peace deals in neighbouring states may have unintentionally pushed bandit groups into new territories.

Security experts argue that such agreements enable criminal gangs to regroup and expand operations. “Some bandits may be moving into areas with less military pressure, leading to more mass kidnap-for-ransom attacks in places like Sokoto,” the briefing stated.

Bandits seize bride, 10 bridesmaids, baby in fresh Sokoto bandit attack