Bandits Kill 15 In Sokoto, Appoints New District Heads – Tambuwal Confirms

Some armed bandits have reportedly taken over two local governments in Sokoto State where they now have a new district head.

The State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal confirmed to newsmen in an interview on Monday that the terrorist group have in the last weekend killed no fewer than fifteen residents of Goronyo and Illela.

Naija News understands that the state police command had earlier denied that nobody was killed in the said councils, describing the reports as fake.

However, Tambuwal who appeared on Channels Television programme yesterday, confirmed the attack, noting that the victims were murdered during the raid which happened on Sunday night and last through Monday morning.

Tambuwal told reporters that the bandits were bold enough to appoint district heads in affected communities.

Naija News reports that Governor Tambuwal gave the confirmation shortly before he presented the state’s 2022 draft budget to members of the state House of Assembly.

He said: ”12 people were killed in Illela and three others lost their lives in Goronyo.’’

The governor commiserated with the families of those who lost their loved ones to the attacks, as well as people of the affected communities.

Meanwhile, a native of one of the affected communities, Idris Gobir, had told VOA Hausa Service in an interview that the bandits had appointed two district heads in the Sabon Birni zone of Sokoto State.

He said: “Yesterday (Sunday), the bandits’ leader celebrated the Maulud in Makwaruwa, where he declared himself the district head. The event took place in the presence of the bona fide district head. But when they asked if he had any objection, the bonafide district head, Dan Sani, paid allegiance to the bandits’ leader who usurped his powers.

‘’Similarly, in Gangara town, the bandits summoned a meeting which was attended by all the inhabitants and the bandits. They selected Dan Kwaro and he is now the district head of that town.”

Gobir noted that the new district head paraded himself in the communities last week Thursday giving orders that mosques should be reopened.

He directed that the inhabitants should stop going outside the town for prayers, that they should be performing their prayers in the town.

“They control the local justice system and others. He ordered that markets be reopened on Tuesdays,” Gobir noted.

Another resident who gave his name as Bashir Altine Guyawa, told journalists that even before the bandits appointed district heads in the area, they had for a long time, been in control of that zone and called the shots.

He said: “From Dama where there was an encounter between the bandits and security agents, up to Zango and Gatawa, the bandits are in total control of these areas and dictate daily affairs.

“So, whether they announce the appointment of district heads or not, they have already established their presence and they are in control. So, anybody who had traditional authority can no longer exercise that power,” he said.