Sun Nov 30 22:27:17 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing and rewriting the provided text:
Mass Kidnapping in Sokoto State: Bride and Bridesmaids Among 14 Abducted
SOKOTO, Nigeria – A wave of kidnappings continues to plague northern Nigeria, with armed attackers abducting 13 women and an infant in an overnight raid in Chacho village, Sokoto State. Among those seized were a bride, 10 of her bridesmaids, a baby, the baby’s mother, and another woman.
According to local resident Aliyu Abdullahi, the attack occurred on the night of Saturday to Sunday in the Zango neighborhood of Chacho. This is not the first time the village has been targeted, as a similar incident in October saw 13 people kidnapped, for whose release the community had to pay a ransom.
“Bandits stormed our village last night and kidnapped 14 persons, including a bride and 10 bridesmaids, from a house,” Abdullahi told AFP news agency.
A Nigerian intelligence report confirmed a surge in bandit-initiated abductions in Sokoto State during November, marking the highest number of such attacks in the past year. The report suggests that deals struck by neighboring states with bandits, in hopes of ending their activities, may have inadvertently driven the violence into Sokoto.
The kidnapping comes amidst a string of similar incidents. Just last week, 25 students were abducted in Kebbi State, while over 300 were kidnapped in Niger State. While those abducted from Kebbi have been rescued and reunited with their families, a search continues for the others.
Mass kidnappings for ransom have become increasingly common in northern Nigeria, with armed gangs targeting schools and rural communities, overwhelming security forces.
The escalating violence has put immense pressure on the Nigerian government. President Bola Tinubu recently declared a nationwide emergency in response to the escalating unrest. Concerns are further amplified by recent threats from Donald Trump, who has threatened attacks on Nigeria over purported anti-Christian violence, claims which human rights groups have dismissed as overly simplistic.
The Nigerian government faces growing calls to address the root causes of the unrest and improve security for vulnerable communities.
First Piper 