Bandits kill soldiers, invade villages, displace households in Sokoto

Bandits, at the weekend, ambushed soldiers on patrol in Gudu Local Council of Sokoto State, killing four of them in the process. Two others were also injured during the attack.

The member, representing Gudu constituency at the state House of Assembly, Yahya Gudu, who confirmed the incident, said the assailants razed two patrol vehicles.

“Yes it is true, some gunmen ambushed soldiers on patrol along Kukurau-Bangi Road on Saturday, and killed four of them while two others were injured. They also burnt down their patrol vehicles,” he said.

The lawmaker, who described the incident as disheartening, said after notifying Governor Ahmed Aliyu about the attack, reinforcement had since been sent to the area.

ALSO, hoodlums invaded Lanbara and Tunga Barki villages in Shagari council area of the state, displacing over 300 households and rustling over 3,000 cattle, camel and other livestock.

Consequently, the locals have taken refuge in the headquarters of the council area. The member representing Yabo/Shagari Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Yusuf Yabo, has alongside officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), visited the victims in their temporary camp and undertook an on the spot assessment.

The lawmaker called on security agencies and relevant authorities to redouble efforts to restore peace to the affected persons. He acknowledged that Sokoto South Senatorial District is one of the most peaceful parts of the state, regretting the incidents.

A resident, who spoke anonymously, said the bandits were seen traversing their community on 20 motorcycles.

“Each motorcycle was carrying two well-armed bandits. They didn’t touch or kidnap anybody in our community. They just passed and the next thing we heard were sounds of gunshots.

“It was later that, we discovered they laid an ambush for the security operatives patrolling the area and killed four of them. Their bodies were later recovered by their colleagues and carried away,” he said.

When contacted, the spokesman of the state police command, ASP Rufa’i Ahmed, referred our reporter to the Public Relations Officer of the 8 Division of the Nigerian Army, Lieutenant Colonel Ikechukwu Eze, who could not be reached on phone.