Tobias Sylvester
Gunmen suspected as bandits have killed 28 people and kidnapped an unspecific number of persons during an attack in Duma village, Tureta Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
Bandits Attack Sokoto
Sokoto State Government confirmed the number of casualties on Friday, saying the attack occurred on Wednesday night when bandits invaded the community and rustled livestock.
A resident identified as Garba Mailambu told NAN that the gunmen rode on motorcycles and were firing sporadically, adding that some fleeing residents drowned as they dived into a nearby river.
Another resident said the bandits forced the abducted persons, which included mostly youths, to lead the rustled livestock out of town.
The gunmen also reportedly demanded large quantities of petrol as ransom to release the abducted persons.
Governor Aminu Tambuwal, accompanied by all the security chiefs: Army, Air Force, Police, and the Department of State Security (DSS), paid a visit to the community on Friday.
Tambuwal observed Juma’at prayers in the community, while special prayers were offered for the repose of the souls of the victims.
He said he was there on behalf of the government and people of the state to commiserate with them over the incident which left about 28 people dead.
While praying to Allah to forgive the deceased and grant them Jannatul Firdausi, Tambuwal assured people of the area that, government and security agencies are doing their best to ensure that peace is reinforced in the entire state.
He appealed for more cooperation’ from the security agencies and also prayed to Allah to continue giving them victory over the bandits and other criminal elements.
The governor solicited the support and cooperation of the people, urging them to expose informants giving information to the bandits.
“We must therefore expose them even if those concerned are your relations. You are obliged to expose them for the community to have peace,” he advised.
The governor directed the immediate release of relief materials to IDPs in the area.
KanyiDaily had also reported how bandits killed an unspecific number of soldiers during an attack at a military checkpoint around Zuma Rock, the border between Abuja and Niger State.
