The father of the bride kidnapped alongside 12 others in Chacho village, Wurno Local Government Area of Sokoto State, says the attackers contacted the community two days after the incident.
Malam Umaru Chacho confirmed on Monday that the suspected terrorists, who abducted 11 women and two men during preparations for a wedding, reached out to the families but made no ransom demand.
“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 left several villagers injured. One relative of the bride, who attempted to resist the abductors, sustained a severe gunshot wound and narrowly survived.
Umaru expressed deep concern over worsening insecurity in the community, noting that over 30 people had been killed in the past five years due to repeated bandit attacks.
He also lamented the poor state of infrastructure in Chacho, a large rural community he says has suffered long-term government neglect.
“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.
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Wurno and neighbouring communities have faced recurring security threats in recent years, including banditry and kidnappings, which residents attribute to inadequate security presence.
Chacho, one of the largest settlements in the area, has repeatedly appealed for government intervention, including a police post and improved healthcare facilities.
Authorities have yet to issue an official statement on the latest abduction, while families anxiously await further communication from the kidnappers.