Sokoto state government has confirmed that intending pilgrims from Isa local government area of Sokoto State, on their way to the state capital for take-off to this year’s pilgrimage, were rescued unscathed.
It was gathered that the bandits attacked their convoy along Gundumi forest on Monday, but their security escorts foiled the attack.
A 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.
But in a statement on Tuesday, the state Commissioner for Information, Isah Bajini Galadanchi, said all of them arrived safely.
“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.
