Bandits Attack Motorcade Of Intending Pilgrim In Sokoto , Allegedly Kill Three Police Escort

By Onuminya Ochowechi In Sokoto

The terrorists operating at the corridor Eastern part of Sokoto State have attacked the Motorcade of intending Pilgrims from Isa local government leaving three police escort dead.

The intending Pilgrims were coming to Hajj camp in Sokoto for airlift to Saudi Arabia when the bandits ambush according to a source who spoke on condition of anonymity.

According to him the terrorists went away with the scores of the intending Pilgrims with some security agents.

However respite had come the way of twenty one intending pilgrims from Sokoto state, kidnapped by the suspected terrorists.

The intending pilgrims from Isa Local Government Area of the state were on their way to Hajj Camp in Sokoto, for take off to this year’s Hajj Pilgrimage.

Permanent Secretary, Sokoto state Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Shehu Muhammad Dange, confirmed to our correspondent that, the victims were kidnapped at Gundumi village alongside security escort and some members of their families who accompanied them

Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Isah Bajini Galadanci, who further confirmed the incident in a press statement said, “the victims and security men escorting them, were held up by suspected bandits operating on the corridor linking the eastern part of the state.

“However, all the twenty one intending pilgrims and the security escort as well as their relatives were rescued.

“The intending pilgrims were received by Government officials and they are now waiting for their scheduled flight.”

The statement did not reveals who are responsible for their rescue nor, disclose if ransom was paid or not.

When contacted, the Police Public Relation Officer, ASP Abubakar Sanusi, who spoke to our correspondent on phone said, he is currently attending a seminar in Kano state, stressing that he is not aware of what is happening in Sokoto State.