SUSPECTED bandits have attacked three communities in Wurno Local Government Area of Sokoto State, killing seven people and abducting 17 others, including 15 women.
News Point Nigeria reports that the affected communities are Dinawa, Munƙi and Gidan Dare, where the attackers reportedly operated for several hours on Monday night, taking advantage of heavy rainfall to launch the attacks.
Confirming the incident, the Chairman of the Dinawa Vigilante Group, Aliyu Falke, said the suspected bandits were allegedly brought into the area in a Canter truck at about 10:30 p.m.
Falke said his men were outside the community keeping watch when they noticed the truck parked a short distance away.
“We were outside the town, guarding our community when my men sighted a Canter truck parked some metres away. It was offloading something and when my men approached it, the driver turned around and sped away,” he said.
According to him, about 15 minutes later, the bandits began shooting sporadically, killing two people, including one of his men identified as Sani Wukari.
He said the vigilantes engaged the attackers in a gun battle but were eventually overpowered, allowing the bandits to enter the town and continue their operation.
“Five other people were killed, including two women. They also injured four people, including myself, and abducted six women and one man,” Falke said.
He said the attackers operated for about four hours before police personnel arrived in two armoured vehicles and engaged them, forcing the bandits to withdraw from the community.
Falke expressed concern that residents had long suspected that bandits were being transported into the communities in vehicles, adding that the latest incident had strengthened those suspicions.
Those reportedly killed in the Dinawa attack include Malami Dogo, Chairman Maidawa, Altine Mesi, Alhaji Shua’ibu, Balaraba Abdullahi, Hafsatu Salisu and Sani Wukari.
The injured residents were identified as Abdullahi Maikano, Garba Nabuga and Anas Abubakar.
Falke said he sustained a gunshot wound to the leg and was recovering, while Maikano suffered life-threatening injuries and was receiving treatment at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto.
He added that the other two victims sustained gunshot wounds to their hands.
Falke further disclosed that one person identified as Ibrahim Mai Mai was abducted from Munƙi, while nine women were kidnapped from Gidan Dare.
The lawmaker representing Wurno Constituency in the Sokoto State House of Assembly, Hon. Shamsu Aliyu, who confirmed the attacks, said he was at Dinawa to condole with the affected residents.
He described the incident as devastating and expressed concern over the renewed attacks on communities in the area.
Residents said the attackers took advantage of the heavy downpour, which forced many people indoors and made it difficult for security personnel and local vigilantes to respond quickly.
In addition to the killings and abductions, the attackers reportedly rustled an unspecified number of cattle and looted valuables from residents of the three communities.