Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Suspected bandits have killed the village imam and three other residents, and abducted 12 people during a midnight attack on Illela Dawagware (also spelled Dangware) village in Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State. The attack occurred around 12:20 a.m. on Sunday, June 28, 2026, when about 30 armed men on nine motorcycles invaded the community and operated for nearly 30 minutes, firing sporadically.
A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said villagers attempted to resist the attackers but were overpowered. According to the resident, the gunmen first invaded the home of the village imam, killing him and three others, before moving from house to house and abducting 12 residents. "They killed our imam, his neighbour and another person. They later abducted 12 people, comprising eight women and four men," the source said.
The victims killed were identified as Mallam Liman Lawwali Na Ande, who served as the village imam, along with Lawwali Na Lami, Abdullahi Haruna, and Awwalu. Among those abducted are Amiru, Hauwa, Awwalu's wife and two brothers, as well as several other residents. One of those killed, Awwalu, also had his wife and two biological brothers abducted in the same attack. Another victim, Alhaji Samaila, sustained a gunshot wound that fractured his hand and is currently receiving treatment at a health facility in Sokoto.
Residents accused security operatives of failing to respond to distress calls during the attack. "We called security personnel in Goronyo for reinforcement and even offered to provide money for fuel, but they did not come," the source alleged. Another resident who attended the burial of the imam said fear had gripped the community, forcing many villagers to resolve not to spend the night in the village again. "They will now sleep at the IDPs camp in Goronyo because they fear another attack," he said.
The residents appealed to the federal and state governments, as well as security agencies, to take urgent steps to end the recurring attacks. The resident described the incident as the 24th attack on the village, recalling that bandits had, two years earlier, killed seven members of the same family inside a mosque. "We had not experienced another attack until now. Just last Sunday, some displaced residents returned to the village after spending about two years away," he said. The attack came days after suspected bandits reportedly killed a chief imam and abducted nine people in neighbouring Kuda-Kuda village in the same LGA.
This tragedy is a painful reminder that the overwhelming majority of victims of Nigeria's banditry and terrorism are innocent Muslims — farmers, traders, and worshippers who are killed in their homes and mosques. The imam, a custodian of Islamic values, was among those cut down. The gunmen, despite knowing his identity, showed no mercy. Months ago, some voices tried to frame Nigeria's insecurity as a genocide against Christians, but tragedies like this expose the selective nature of that narrative. The people of Illela Dangware, like countless other communities across the North-West, are predominantly Muslim. They are not being spared; they are being slaughtered alongside everyone else. The killers do not ask for religion before they pull the trigger. Every innocent life matters, and every victim deserves justice. We must confront Nigeria's insecurity with honesty, not with narratives that overlook the suffering of others.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments