11 Killed As Bandits Raid Sokoto Communities

At least eleven people were killed within a span of one week when gunmen suspected to be bandits attacked two villages located in Gandi District of Rabbah Local Government Area of Sokoto State, Naija News learnt.

Reports revealed that no fewer than 300 animals were stolen during the attacks that took place in Gidan-Buwai and Maikujera. A source from one of the affected villages told journalists that the separate attacks occurred in less than a week. The resident who identified himself as Salisu Gandi, claimed that the bandits arrived at the Gidan-Buwai community on Monday night.

“They also rustled over 100 cows, 200 sheep, and goats belonging to the community members as well as some residents of the community in the process,” he told The PUNCH.

Giving further explanation on the incident, Gandi said a large group of insurgents on motorcycles, numbering over 100, arrived at Gidan-Buwai village. They swiftly surrounded the village, armed with sophisticated weapons, and immediately began firing indiscriminately, resulting in the loss of lives and injuries.

The severity of the attack was emphasized by Gandi, as the bandits not only caused casualties but also set fire to numerous houses, destroyed more than 60 silos, 10 motorcycles, and five vehicles. Additionally, seven individuals suffered varying degrees of injuries.

Furthermore, the bandits looted several shops, stealing essential commodities and food items.

In their relentless pursuit, the gunmen targeted vigilante members in the surrounding villages, conducting thorough house-to-house searches.

Adding to the grim situation, a few days prior, the bandits also launched an attack on Maikujera village, claiming the lives of five individuals and leaving many others injured.

The injured victims were subsequently admitted to the trauma centre at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital.

However, the spokesman for the state police command, ASP Ahmad Rufa’i, when contacted, declined to comment on the figures.

He, however, assured residents that the Nigerian Police would make their findings known to the general public upon completion of their investigations, the news platform quoted the police spokesperson.

Additionally, a separate incident occurred in Maikara village, Kware Local Government area of the state during the early hours of Wednesday.

A resident told journalists that the assailants fatally shot a father and his son, while also abducting five individuals during the nearly two-hour-long attack.