By Ismail Auwal
Nigerian security operatives have foiled a daredevil attempt to kidnap 21 intending pilgrims from Sokoto State. The incident happened in the late hours of Monday along Gundumi forest.
The pilgrims were reportedly coming from Isa Local Government Area and are due for take-off to the Holy Land on Tuesday.
Auwal Muhammad, a resident of Isa Local Government, confirmed to SAHELIAN TIMES that non of the intending pilgrims was abducted or killed.
“They attack them around Gundumi forest but the security operatives escorting them succeeded in foiling the abduction attempt,” he said.
However, some of the security operatives were said to have sustained injuries in the crossfire that ensued.
The Sokoto State Government has confirmed the incident in an official statement issued by the ministry of information.
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.
