Bandits kill 50 in Sokoto, 31 in Zamfara
AREWA AGENDA – Over 50 persons were reportedly killed in the Gwadabawa and Tangaza local government areas of Sokoto State as gunmen suspected to be bandits struck on Saturday evening.
This was as 31 villagers were killed by bandits in Janbako and Sakida villages, Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State also on Saturday afternoon.
The Sokoto State Command of the Nigeria Police Force, on Sunday, confirmed the bandits’ attack in the two local government areas in the state.
The command’s spokesperson, ASP Ahmad Rufa’i, promised to provide The PUNCH with details of the deadly attacks, saying the police were on top of the situation
A villager in the Gwadabawa LGA, who spoke anonymously, said two attacked villages are the most populous in the area.
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The villager said, “Some of the bandits were already in the town, unknown to residents of the affected communities, before others arrived in the evening to strike.
“The operation started after evening prayer, where they attacked the two villages simultaneously.
In Bilingawa, not less than 18 people were killed during the attack on Saturday evening.
“After killing them, they set their corpses and those of their animals on fire, ensuring that most of them were burnt beyond recognition.”
In the Tangaza LGA, no fewer than 37 persons were allegedly killed and several others injured in attacks on three communities
According to a resident of the area, the affected communities include the Raka, Raka Dutse, and Filin Gawa communities.
A former Chairman of the LGA, Bashar Kalenjeni, said 18 persons were killed at Raka, 17 at Filin Gawa, and two at Raka Dutse.
We We wanted to bury them in the night, but the bandits came back and dispersed us. As of this morning, the deceased are still there, unburied,” Kalenjeni said.
According to him, the “offence” of the villagers was their “refusal to pay levies imposed on their communities.”
