The Sokoto State Government has donated more than N100 million and 408 bags of assorted food items to families affected by bandit attacks and a boat mishap in Dinawa, Birjingo and Gorau communities in Wurno and Goronyo Local Councils of the state.

The gesture was announced during a condolence visit by a high-powered state government delegation led by the State APC Leader, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, to the affected communities.

In Dinawa, where seven people were killed and five others injured in a bandit attack, the families of each of the deceased received N1 million, two bags each of maize and millet, and one bag of rice.

Each of the five injured victims received N250,000 and one bag each of rice, millet and maize.

Similarly, in Birjingo, the families of the three people killed received N1 million each, two bags each of maize and millet, and one bag of rice. The six injured victims received N250,000 each and one bag each of rice, millet and maize.

At Gorau, where 65 people lost their lives in a boat mishap, each bereaved family received N1 million, two bags each of maize and millet, and one bag of rice.

Speaking on behalf of Governor Ahmed Aliyu, Wamakko expressed deep shock over the incidents, describing the deaths in Dinawa, Birjingo and Gorau as tragic and painful.

He prayed for the repose of the souls of the deceased and urged the affected families to accept the losses as the will of Almighty Allah.

Wamakko said the state government remained committed to supporting security agencies in their efforts to tackle insecurity across the state.

“You must have seen the recent intervention by the state government, which included the provision of 62 armoured vehicles to security agencies to support their operations,” he said.

He added that the government would continue to support security agencies in their efforts to curb banditry and other forms of insecurity.

Wamakko expressed optimism that banditry would eventually become a thing of the past and urged rural communities to continue cooperating with security agencies by providing useful information.

He also called for prayers for divine intervention in tackling insecurity and other challenges facing the country.

At Gorau, the governor directed local government authorities and the district head to take stringent measures to prevent the overloading of boats, which he identified as a major factor contributing to boat mishaps in the area.

The delegation later visited Tsamaye village in Sabon Birni Local Council, where it condoled with the people over the recent death of the local APC chairman, Alhaji Amadu Malale.

The delegation prayed for the repose of the deceased’s soul and asked Allah to grant his family the strength to bear the loss.