Gunmen suspected to be bandits kill 13 in Sokoto

At least 13 persons have been killed in new attacks carried out by suspected bandits on three different communities within Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State, even as security personnel prevented an attack on another community.

The attacks, which took place between Thursday night and Friday morning, resulted in the deaths of six persons in Mazau village, four persons in Turtsawa village – including two women, and three farmers in Tsamaye village.

The bandits had tried to invade Unguwan Lalle community on Thursday night, but were frustrated by the security personnel and vigilantes during a heavy gun fight that went on for several hours.

One of the residents, who did not want his name mentioned, said that the bandits ran away when they found themselves up against determined fighters.

”The military and vigilantes engaged them in a fierce gun battle that lasted for hours. We believe the bandits suffered heavy casualties, but they evacuated the bodies of their dead as they usually do,” the resident said.

According to the source, after failing to overrun Unguwan Lalle, the attackers diverted to Mazau village, where they killed six residents before moving to Turtsawa, where four more people, including two women, were killed.

The resident said the prompt intervention of security personnel prevented the attackers from causing further casualties.

He added that the bandits returned on Friday morning and ambushed farmers heading to their farms in Tsamaye village, killing three of them.

”They also attempted to attack us again during the burial of the victims this morning, but soldiers from Unguwan Lalle responded quickly and repelled them,” he said.

A community leader in Sabon Birni, who confirmed the attacks, described the latest killings as part of a renewed wave of bandit assaults in the area.

He further disclosed that the gunmen had, on Wednesday, abducted three farmers in Fadaman Sabon Birni.

Efforts to obtain comments from the two members representing Sabon Birni in the Sokoto State House of Assembly, Hon. Aminu Boza and Hon. Sa’idu Ibrahim, were unsuccessful as calls to their telephone lines went unanswered.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmad Rufa’i, said he had yet to receive a briefing on the incident.

”I am yet to receive details of the attacks. I will contact the Divisional Police Officer in the area and get back with the necessary information,” he said.