Bandits Attack Community, Kill One, Abduct INEC Staff

Bandits have attacked Girkau village in Kebbe Local Government Area of Sokoto State, killing one resident and abducting an official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The attack occurred in the early hours of Thursday, September 10, 2026, with the abducted INEC staff member identified as Bala Aladan, who works in Tambuwal Local Government Area.

The Sokoto State Police Command has launched an investigation into the incident and deployed additional personnel to the affected community following the attack.

The command’s spokesperson, DSP Ahmed Rufai, said the assailants invaded the village after residents had already been evacuated from the area.

He said one person was killed during the attack, while Aladan was taken away by the gunmen. Security agencies were immediately alerted and personnel were deployed to the area to respond to the incident.

Rufai said there was no further information on the whereabouts of the abducted INEC worker or the attackers as of the morning following the incident.

A resident, Munir Auwal, said the bandits arrived in the community during the early hours and opened fire sporadically before abducting some residents.

A police source said security operatives were conducting search-and-rescue operations while tracking the attackers who fled the area after the assault.

The source added that investigations were still underway to determine the exact number of people killed or taken hostage during the attack.

Residents were urged to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies by providing information that could assist efforts to locate the abducted INEC staff member and apprehend the perpetrators.