Gunmen have reportedly massacred 37 persons and wounded several others in in attacks on three communities in Tangaza local government area of Sokoto state.
The communities attacked are Raka, Raka Dutse, and Filin Gawa.
Locals revealed that the bandits invaded the communities on Saturday evening.
The immediate past chairman of the area, Bashar Kalenjeni said 18 persons were killed at Raka, 17 at Filin Gawa and two at Raka Dutse.
The bandits also stopped the burial of the victims.
“We wanted to bury them in the night but the bandits came back and dispersed us. As at Sunday morning, the deceased were still there unburied,” Kalenjeni said.
He said the bandits attacked the villagers because they refused to pay levies imposed on their communities.
“The bandits imposed levies on their communities which was meant to take charge with immediate effect, and also dictating to residents on what to and not to do.
“But the villagers refused to succumb and because of that they attacked them, killing 37 persons while several others sustained various degrees of gunshot injuries and currently receiving treatment at General Hospital, Gwadabawa.
“There are others who are still unaccounted for,” the former chairman disclosed, adding, “Right now, we are waiting for security operatives to lead us to the villages in order to bury the dead ones.”
Spokesperson of the Sokoto State Police Command, ASP Ahmad Rufa’i, denied knowledge of the attacks.
