A young woman named Hamdiya narrowly escaped a traumatic abduction attempt late last night, found injured and dazed before being taken to safety by a quick-thinking tricycle driver.
According to witnesses, Hamdiya was discovered running frantically near the Kanwuri area of Sokoto, visibly shaken and bloodstained.
The tricycle driver, who wished to remain anonymous, recounted, “She looked hurt and couldn’t speak, so I immediately took her to the police.” At the station, officers identified Hamdiya, noticing a cloth tightly tied around her neck and multiple bruises on her body. After removing the cloth, they managed to revive her, and Hamdiya recounted her harrowing ordeal.
She explained that masked men speaking English had abducted her earlier while she visited her grandmother in Achida, Wurno Local Government Area, seizing her as she stepped out to charge her phone. After an uncertain journey, she regained consciousness at the police station.
Police accompanied Hamdiya to her sister’s husband’s residence, where her family confirmed her identity. She was quickly transferred to the hospital, where she is now stable and receiving care.
The incident has sparked outrage, as the human rights advocacy group Take It Back Movement (TIB) accused the Sokoto State government, led by Governor Ahmad Aliyu, of attempting to silence critics. TIB claimed that Hamdiya was previously targeted for “embarrassing” the Governor on social media and condemned the “tyrannical” treatment of her case.
However, initial allegations linking the state government to Hamdiya’s ordeal were dispelled, as police confirmed that she was abducted by unknown bandits, not government agents.
By: Zagazola Makama