Bandits attack Sokoto village, leave 22 dead

Bandits attacked Dangara village in the Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State on Wednesday, killing 22 persons.

Confirming the killing, the Sokoto State Police Command said the attack also left about 20 people injured while another source indicated that foodstuffs, cows and other animals were also rustled.

One of the victims, Umar Nuhu, who spoke to our correspondent from Sabon Birni General Hospital, stated that more than 20 people were killed while others were injured.

Nuhu said, “The bandits stormed our town about few minutes to 4pm and spent close to three hours ransacking, maiming and killing, without any challenge.

“They came in a convoy of over two hundred motorcycles with each of them carrying three persons fully armed with guns.

“After killing our people, they left with foodstuffs, cows, and other animals and later burnt down the shops in the market.”

Sokoto Police Commissioner, Ibrahim Sani Ka’oje, confirmed the incident, through the command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Muhammad Abubakar Sadiq.

Sadiq said, “Upon information received from Gangara Police Post that large number of bandits stormed Gangara village at about 1630hrs on motorbikes, the joint Operation Puff Adder and Military patrol teams were drafted to the scene, efforts were made by the bandits to ambush the response team but were unsuccessful, due to strategic response of the team to the laid ambush.

“After a fierce gun duel, the bandits retreated and escaped into the forest with gunshot injuries while one bandit was shot dead.

“Unfortunately, 22 bodies were discovered to have been victims of sporadic shooting by the bandits on arrival.”

Meanwhile, a philanthropist, Alhaji Garba Suleiman, has offered to settle the hospital bills of the victims.