Bandits have killed 11 persons in Sokoto and Zamfara states in different attacks.
In Zamfara State, six operatives of the Zamfara State Community Protection Guards popularly known as Askarawa, and four loacal vigilantes were killed in an ambush by bandits in Anka Local Government Area on Saturday.
In Sokoto State, the bandits attacked Baidi community in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State on Saturday, killing one person and injuring two others.
Governor Dauda Lawal disclosed in a Facebook post on Sunday that security forces, including the CPG operatives and Nigerian Army personnel, raided the hideouts of the bandits in Sunke Forest.
The security operatives killed several bandits and recovered their weapons during the operation.
However, as the team was returning to base,, gunmen ambushed and opened fire on the returning security operatives, leading to the tragic loss of ten lives
around the Bagega axis, killing six members of the Community Protection Guards and four local vigilantes, also known as ‘Yan Sakai.’
Additionally, three individuals remain missing—two CPG operatives and one vigilante.
Governor Lawal lamented the loss of lives and extended prayers for the deceased.
It read, “I received the heartbreaking news that bandits ambushed some members of the Zamfara State Community Protection Guards in Anka Local Government.
“The incident followed a security operation where our forces, alongside the Nigerian Army, attacked the bandits’ hideouts, successfully neutralizing several of them and recovering weapons.”
in the Zamfara attack, locals said the assailants invaded the village in broad daylight, shooting at residents before fleeing.
The victims were rushed to Tangaza General Hospital, where one later died.
Local sources said this was the third attack in a week, with the attackers arriving on motorcycles in groups of three.
They are said to linked with the Lakurawa bandits, who were previously driven out of the area by security forces.
“This is the third attack since the Lakurawa bandits were driven out,” a resident lamented. “Just recently, bandits struck Layinna village, killing one person, injuring several others, and rustling livestock.
The spokesperson for the Sokoto State Police Command, Ahmed Rufai, on Sunday said the attack was reported by the community leader, prompting a swift response from the police and local security forces.
“The leader of the community alerted the Nigerian Police about the attack, and we mobilised immediately to the scene with the support of the state community guard corps.
“Unfortunately, before our arrival, the attackers had already shot three people. We rushed them to the hospital, but one did not survive,” he said.
