Angry youths on Thursday killed three bandits, including a woman, at Goronyo town in Goronyo local government area of Sokoto State.
Chairman of the local government, Abdulwahab Yahya, who confirmed the incident, said the bandits were killed after a failed attack on a Fulani settlement in the outskirts of the area.
“Report reached us that three bandits were arrested by Fulanis after a failed attack on their community on Wednesday around midnight,’ he said.
“I immediately called and informed the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) who said they could not go there at that time.
“The Fulani, however, called vigilantes in the morning and handed the suspects to them and when the people of Goronyo town knew about the arrest, they stormed the office of the vigilantes, insisting on laying their hands on the bandits.
“I quickly mobilised DSS operatives, but before they got to the place the office was already on fire and the suspects had been killed,” he said.
Yahya said the people were angered by the incessant attacks in the area, hence their attack on the arrested bandits.
“Just in the last two days, several animals were rustled near the divisional police headquarters which was close to the Governor’s lodge where 60 mobile police are camped,” he said.
“People of the area are tired of these attacks despite the presence of heavy security operatives in the area. They feel we are not doing enough to protect them and as such decide to be taking law into their hands, which is wrong.”
It was said that the mob action was triggered by the utterances of the suspected female bandit who was bragging that she would soon be freed as this was not her first arrest.
Spokesman of the Sokoto Police Command, Sanusi Abubakar confirmed the attack and promised to provide its details later.
