No fewer than 13 persons have been killed in fresh attacks by suspected bandits on several communities in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The attacks occurred in Mazau, Turtsawa and Tsamaye villages between Thursday evening and Friday morning.
Local sources said six people were killed in Mazau, four others—including two women—in Turtsawa, while three farmers were murdered in Tsamaye as they were heading to their farms on Friday morning.
Residents disclosed that the bandits had initially attempted to invade Unguwan Lalle town on Thursday evening but were repelled by troops and local vigilantes after a fierce gun battle that lasted several hours.
A local said the attackers were forced to retreat after encountering stiff resistance from the combined security team.
“The military and vigilantes engaged them in a fierce gun battle that lasted for hours. We believe the bandits suffered heavy casualties, but as is their usual practice, they evacuated the bodies of their dead to avoid leaving any trace,” the source said.
The source said after failing to overrun Unguwan Lalle, the bandits moved to nearby Mazau village where they killed six residents before proceeding to Turtsawa, where they shot dead four more people, including two women, one of whom was a married mother.
“The death toll could have been higher, but the prompt intervention of the security operatives forced the attackers to flee,” the resident added.
The bandits were said to have resurfaced on Friday morning, killing three farmers on their way to their farms in Tsamaye village.
“They also attempted to attack us again during the burial of the victims this morning, but the military from Unguwan Lalle responded swiftly and repelled them,” the source said.
The spokesperson of the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmad Rufa’i, said he had not yet been briefed on the incident.
“I am yet to receive details of the attacks. I will contact the Divisional Police Officer in the area and get back with the necessary information,” he said.
