Some gunmen identified to be bandits have attacked Pilgrims from Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State who were preparing for hajj.
The pilgrims were due for take-off from Sokoto to the Holy Land, Mecca on Tuesday morning
It was gathered that the bandits attacked their convoy along Gundumi forest, but their security escorts foiled the attack.
In a statement signed by the governor’s spokesperson, Muhammad Bello, the state government confirmed the attack.
He said the intending pilgrims were attacked “on their way to the state capital for take-off to this year’s pilgrimage.”
Mr Bello, in the statement seen by DAILY GIST said, the intending pilgrims were rescued unscathed.
Resident of Isa town, Malam Sirajo who confirmed the incident, said the intending pilgrims escaped unhurt and some of them were brought back to the palace of Sarkin Gobir Isa.
“They attacked their convoy, which was being escorted by security operatives who were said to have engaged the bandits for some minutes. We learnt that some of the operatives sustained injuries, which I cannot verify,” Sirajo added.
The Permanent Secretary, Sokoto State Scholarship Board, Shehu Muhammad Dange also confirmed the attack but said that he was not sure whether there was any case of abduction.
“We have 21 intending pilgrims from Isa. But we are yet to ascertain their condition,” he added.
According to the state Commissioner for Information, Isah Bajini Galadanchi, all of the intending pilgrims, their relatives who were accompanying them to Sokoto Hajj camp and the security men escorting them, were momentarily held up by suspected bandits operating on the corridor linking the eastern part of the state, arrived safely in Sokoto, the capital city.
“Already the contingent have been received by Government officials and are being the processed for their onward journey to the Holy Land,” explained Galadanci.
The Executive Secretary of the State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Shehu Dange, also confirmed the attack to journalists but refused to give details of the attack
