Sokoto Mosque Attack Sparks Reactions From UDUS Students

Fear and concern have continued to spread across Sokoto State following a deadly attack on worshippers at a mosque in Kiba Ruwa community, Sarbin Birni Local Government Area.

Bandits reportedly stormed the mosque in the early hours recently shortly after the Subhi (dawn) prayer. According to reports by Sahara Reporters, the attackers opened fire on worshippers, killing the imam and two others, while several worshippers were abducted and taken to an unknown location.

Local sources who spoke with Egbe Mokun Parrots confirmed that the gunmen forcefully entered the mosque at dawn, shooting sporadically leading to the death of the Imam and two others, before fleeing with others . As of the time of this report, the exact number of those abducted remains unclear.

UDUS Students Express Concern

The attack has triggered reactions among students of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), as the affected village is s close to the university community.

Yusuf Bashir, a 300-level Law student and resident of Sokoto, described the incident as alarming. He noted that Kiba Ruwa is not far from UDUS and recalled that the village was also attacked about two years ago.

“ The area is somehow close to UDUS, which makes it risky.” 

“Although soldiers are now parading the area and security seems tighter, students still need to be extremely careful," he said.

Abdullahi Alaro, a 200-level Law student from Osun State, said the incident would not stop him from continuing his education in the North. He explained that his parents were initially worried about the high rate of insecurity in the region, but he remained resolute, affirming that God is in full control. 

“With God, everything will be fine. I will just make sure I’m extra careful, because insecurity is now a national issue.”

Sharing a similar view, Maridiyah Suleiman said she was aware of the security challenges before choosing to study in the North.

 “My mum understands the insecurity in the North."

“She panicked when she heard the news, but later assured me that with Allah, all will be well. She advised me to be extremely careful and promised continued prayers and support," she said.

However, Aminu Abubakar, a 200-level Library and Information Science student from Kwara State, expressed deep uncertainty about resuming school.

 “After reading about the mosque attack, I’m not sure if I will resume. I’m not ready to trade my life for education. I need clear assurances and safety measures from the school.”

Students’ Union Reacts

Reacting to the incident, the Students’ Union Chairman, Taisu Aminu, a 500-level Agriculture student, said the union was already engaging security stakeholders to ensure the safety of students.

“We were shocked by the news. Since then, the executives have been working to liaise with the school’s security management and relevant security agencies in Sokoto. Our priority is to ensure that this attack does not extend to UDUS students.”

He reaffirmed the union’s commitment to student safety, stressing that measures would be put in place to prevent kidnapping or banditry attacks within and around the university.

 “We are here to make a difference and ensure that no UDUS student is exposed to harm, both on and off campus,” he added.

By Oyelowo Khalid