Manir Dan’iya, the ADC candidate for governor of Sokoto State, has denounced the most recent murders and mass kidnappings in Rabah Local Government Area, calling them proof of the government’s inability to safeguard citizens.
In a statement released on Tuesday by his media assistant, Aminu Abdullahi, Dan’iya said that reports of the murder of a woman and her son, coupled with the murders of ten individuals and the kidnapping of almost forty others in Rabah on Sunday, signified a concerning increase in the level of insecurity in the region.
He also voiced alarm over a second attack on the same local government’s Tofa village, which purportedly resulted in the deaths of seven individuals and the kidnapping of twelve others.
“How many more murders or kidnappings are required before the APC governments acknowledge that Sokoto has a serious security emergency?” Dan’iya inquired.
He claimed that the ongoing attacks in Rabah had shown what he called a growing discrepancy between the promises made by the government and the reality that rural populations face.
In recent months, people of Rabah Local Government Area have been the target of many attacks by alleged bandits, including murders, kidnappings, and livestock rustling. Five people were kidnaped and one person was slain during an attack on Mallamawar Yari village in March, according to authorities. Four farmers were killed and twelve more were kidnaped in another attack that was reported in June.
Recent attacks on a number of towns in Sokoto State have prompted demands for more robust security protocols and a greater number of security guards in high-risk regions.
According to reports, gunmen allegedly raided one of the local government’s settlements early on Monday, killing at least ten people and kidnapping several more.
A number of security-related initiatives have been announced by the state administration, including the allocation of N1.75 billion for the purchase of 1,000 motorcycles for security services.
According to Dan’iya, the government needs to make sure that these initiatives give locals noticeable outcomes.
“An additional press release is not necessary for the residents of Rabah. They require security guards, intelligence, quick action, and the assurance to sleep in their houses without worrying that armed guys may show up at night,” he stated.
In addition, he advocated for increased political accountability and coordination in the state’s security framework, contending that the extent of insecurity necessitated a more comprehensive institutional response.
Dan’iya also called on the Federal Government to step up its efforts to combat banditry in the Northwest, arguing that while governments relied on sporadic security operations and guaranties, the area could not continue to endure murders, kidnappings, and displacement.
Dan’iya offered prayers for the abducted people’ safe return and expressed sympathy to the families of those killed in the attacks.
Additionally, he praised the security forces battling banditry in the state and pledged that, should he be elected in 2027, his administration would put a higher priority on protecting people and property through enhanced intelligence gathering, better coordination with security agencies, and ongoing operations against criminal networks.
“People must not be slain at Sokoto today, grieved tomorrow, and forgotten the day after. Dan’iya came to the conclusion that the government must take responsibility for every life lost.
