Bandits have killed over 60 people and wounded several others in an attack on Goronyo weekly market in Sokoto State, on Sunday.
Residents told 21st CENTURY CHRONICLE that the bandits encircled the market before they started shooting sporadically
This is coming barely 12 days after bandits killed dozens of people in Unguwar Lalle market in Sabon Birni local government area.
Goronyo, Isa, Sabon Birni, Raba, are among the frontline local government areas in the state.
Mobile telecommunications network has been cut off in the area and sale of animals in markets prohibited as part of efforts to steam the tide of bandits’ attacks.
A human rights activist in Sokoto State, Basharu Guyawa, said the bandits were more than 200.
“What we learnt was that over 150 to 200 of them (bandits) on motorcycles rode through the Gundumi forest to Goronyo town. They went straight into the market and started shooting sporadically. They were not selective in their shooting; they obviously came to kill,” Guyawa, the coordinator of Rundunar Adalci said.
But Mr. Guyawa said anybody could ascertain the actual number of those killed in the attack that locals said lasted for several hours.
“As it’s now, anyone who said he knows the number of those killed is a liar. The attack was very horrendous” Mr. Guyawa said.
