Gunmen have killed a man and taken an official of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Girkau village, Kebbe Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The victim is Mallam Samaila Abdullahi Girkau. The abducted INEC worker is Bala A. Ladan Girkau, who works in Tambuwal.
This attack happened on Thursday morning when armed men entered the village and took away the electoral officer.
The Sokoto State Police Command spokesman, DSP Ahmed Rufai, confirmed the incident. He said they received a report about the attack, confirming the killing and the abduction.
"Yes, we are aware of the attack. There was a killing and an abduction," Rufai stated.
He added that the police are trying to gather more information from the Divisional Police Officer in the area.
"We are in contact with the DPO in charge of the area to find out exactly what happened. Our men are working on the matter," he said.
This latest attack comes as security issues increase in Kebbe. The area has seen many deadly attacks, abductions, and cattle rustling in the past weeks.
On September 4, police confirmed that five people were killed and three others injured when suspected bandits attacked Girkau and nearby communities in Girkau Ward. Residents also reported several abductions and many cattle were stolen.
This September attack followed another deadly one in August, where police confirmed that 28 people were killed in Ungushi. After that, the Nigerian Army changed its security plans around Kebbe and nearby areas, as they received intelligence that the attackers were still active.
Residents of Kebbe have also said that suspected bandits demanded N40 million from the community. They threatened to attack if the money was not paid. The police confirmed they knew about this threat and said their Anti-Kidnapping Unit is looking into it.
These repeated attacks have raised fears about the safety of people in rural Kebbe. Many are fleeing their homes, livestock are being stolen, and normal life is disturbed.
The abduction of the INEC worker adds to the security problems, especially for officials in remote areas. There is no clear sign that this abduction is related to his work with the electoral commission.
Security agencies are expected to step up operations in the area to protect the community and help rescue the abducted INEC staff member.
The police did not say if anyone had been arrested in connection with the attack.
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