The father of the bride, kidnapped alongside her friends in Chacho village, Wurno Local Government Area of Sokoto State, says the abductors contacted the community two days after the attack.
Malam Umaru Chacho, father of the bride, confirmed on Monday that the suspected terrorists who invaded the village and whisked away 13 people—including 11 women and two men—called the families but did not demand 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 attack, which occurred during preparations for a wedding, left several villagers injured.
According to Umaru, one relative of the bride who attempted to resist the abductors sustained a serious gunshot wound and narrowly survived.
Umaru expressed deep concern over the deteriorating security situation in the community, recounting years of repeated attacks.
“Over 30 people have been killed here in the last five years since these bandits started disturbing our community,” he said.
Beyond the insecurity, he lamented the poor state of basic infrastructure in Chacho, a large rural settlement he believes has long been neglected 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 neighbouring communities have suffered persistent security challenges in recent years, with banditry, kidnappings, and rural raids becoming recurrent.
Residents say the lack of adequate security presence has emboldened criminal groups and increased the vulnerability of villages, especially during social gatherings.
Chacho village, one of the largest settlements in the area, has repeatedly appealed for government intervention, including the establishment of a police post and improved healthcare support.
Meanwhile, authorities are yet to issue an official statement on the latest abduction, while families continue to await further communication from the kidnappers.
