Bandits have attacked Marnona village in Wurno Local Government Area of Sokoto State, killing one worshipper and abducting several others during morning prayers on Sunday.
Armed with sophisticated weapons, the assailants stormed the mosque at dawn and opened fire indiscriminately, sending worshippers and residents fleeing in panic as gunshots rang through the village.
Confirming the incident, the Sokoto State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Isah Achida, condemned the assault as “barbaric” and “an act of cowardice.”
“Targeting innocent worshipers in a sacred place is a direct attack on our humanity and our faith. The perpetrators must be brought to justice, and our people must remain united to defeat this menace,” Achida said.
He assured residents that the state government, in collaboration with security agencies, is working to curb banditry across Sokoto. Achida also expressed condolences to the bereaved families and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
Security sources suspect the attackers may have come from camps hidden in the forests straddling Sokoto and Zamfara states, areas notorious for harbouring armed groups. The gunmen fled before security operatives arrived at the scene.
The attack adds to a string of violent incidents in Sokoto East, where communities have endured repeated raids, kidnappings, and killings in recent months. Locals have intensified calls for increased military presence and coordinated security operations to restore peace.
Police spokesperson DSP Ahmed Rufai said the command has launched an investigation and will release further details soon.
Meanwhile, tension remains high in Marnona and surrounding villages as security patrols intensify, with local vigilante groups joining forces with law enforcement to prevent further attacks.
For now, villagers are left counting their losses, their prayers overshadowed by the growing insecurity gripping Sokoto’s rural communities.
