Five Killed As Bandits Attack Sokoto Community

Five people have been killed in a fresh bandit attack on Girkau community in Kebbe Local Government Area of Sokoto State, with residents also reporting injuries, abductions and cattle rustling.

The attack happened on Thursday afternoon. Daily Trust reported that the gunmen arrived on motorcycles and opened fire as residents were preparing for Zuhr prayers. Daily Post also reported the raid, saying the attackers spent hours in the community and left residents with few safe places to hide.

Daily Trust said three injured residents were taken to General Hospital, Tambuwal, for treatment. A security operative quoted by the paper identified four of the dead as Dogo Dan Barkeji, Baban Gida Abdullahi, Abubakar Dan Yaki and Abubakar Aliyu, while the fifth victim was described as a visitor from Dukura.

Daily Post reported that four residents were injured, cattle were rustled, and a vigilante was abducted with his locally made gun taken by the attackers. It also said one person was killed in Dukura and another in Jabga, both in Girkau Ward.

The raid follows earlier warnings about insecurity in Kebbe LGA. Daily Post had reported that suspected bandits previously demanded a N40 million levy from residents of Kebbe town and threatened an attack if the demand was not met.

Sources: Daily Post, Daily Trust