Eleven vigilantes have lost their lives in a gun battle with to Lakurawa insurgents in Tangaza local government area of Sokoto State.
The clashhas been raging since
Friday, with two fatalities, but the death toll rose to nine additional bodies were recovered.
More dead victims were believed to be in the dense Lakurawa forest enclave, and efforts were underway to retrieve them with the assistance of soldiers and other security agencies from Binji and Racca.
An anonymous local said, “the confrontation began after local vigilantes foiled an attack on Magonho community, prompting a fierce exchange of gunfire.
“The assailants, estimated to be around 40 in number, were heavily armed and arrived on 20 motorcycles. They rustled livestock from the village before retreating.
“Troops from the Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Masallaci responded swiftly and pursued the bandits, successfully recovering some of the stolen animals.
“However, the bandits later returned to Magonho village, opening fire and setting ablaze an MTN communication tower before fleeing once again.”
The Sokoto State Police spokesperson, Ahmed Rufai, confirmed the attack and the destruction of the MTN mast, but could not give the number of the vigilantes killed as at the time of filing this report.
He said, “Yes, there was a report of attack in the area, including the MTN mast in the community. On the number of casualties, I would have to get back to you, on the figure as I cannot confirm the figure for now.”
