Bandits kill 7 in Sokoto communities

Bandits in the early hours of Sunday attacked Gatawa and Shalla communities in Sabon Birni and Isa local government areas of Sokoto State, killing seven people and abducting several others.

Residents of Gatawa told Daily Trust that gunmen invaded the community around 1:30 a.m., shooting sporadically.

A resident, who requested anonymity, said vigilante members confronted the attackers, leading to the death of four vigilantes on the spot, while two others sustained gunshot injuries.

One of the injured later died in hospital, bringing the death toll in the community to five.

He added that the assailants abducted six persons—two married women, two teenage girls and two young boys.

He said, “The bandits invaded our community around 1 a.m. and started shooting sporadically. Our vigilantes engaged them, but four of them paid the supreme price on the spot. Two others sustained gunshot injuries and were taken to the hospital, but one later died.”

He added that the attackers rustled livestock and fled before security operatives arrived.

Another resident said the bandits had yet to contact the families of those abducted to demand ransom.

He said, “They haven’t communicated with their families yet, but we heard yesterday that they killed one of our relatives who was kidnapped two months ago. Despite paying a ransom of N1.5 million, they still killed him because we couldn’t meet their additional demands for a motorcycle and mobile phones.

“This is their usual practice — after collecting the initial ransom, they often demand more before releasing their victims.”

After the Gatawa attack, the bandits reportedly moved to Shalla village in Isa Local Government Area, where they killed two people and abducted an unspecified number of women.

The member representing Isa in the Sokoto State House of Assembly, Hon. Habibu Modachi, confirmed the Shalla attack.

“They killed two people and abducted an unspecified number of women. The bandits also burnt down several food storage facilities and a house belonging to one resident,” he said.

Modachi called for a review of ongoing military operations in the area, noting that the attackers appear to have studied the security deployment pattern.

“The operatives concentrate on Isa town, so the bandits attack the villages and flee before any military intervention,” he said.

However, the spokesman for the Sokoto Police Command, DSP Ahmad Rufa’i, could not confirm the attack, explaining that he was currently in Abuja and had not yet received any information on it.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of Sabon Birni LGA, Alhaji Ayuba Hashimu, has dismissed media reports alleging that an imam and several worshippers were killed in a mosque attack in the area.

Some online platforms had claimed that armed bandits stormed a mosque in Sabon Birni, killing the imam and worshippers and abducting others.

But in a telephone interview, the chairman insisted that no such incident occurred.

He said, “I don’t know any mosque that was attacked, not to mention the killing of an imam and worshippers. The story is false.”

A lawmaker from the area, Hon. Aminu Boza, also debunked the reports, saying, “I don’t know how they got their story, but it is not true. No mosque was attacked by bandits.”

Nigerians can now invest ₦2.5 million on premium domains and profit about ₦17-₦25 million. All earnings paid in US Dollars. Rather than wonder, click here to find out how it works.

Join Daily Trust WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You.