Bandits kill over 35, injure many in Sokoto communities

Following an assault by marauders believed to be armed bandits who killed over 35 people, locals in the Tangaza Local Government Area (LGA) of Sokoto State have fallen into grief, according to eyewitnesses.

Locals said that the bandits targeted Raka, Raka Dutse, and Filingawa about sunset on Saturday in three communities that are part of the local government region.

However, according to a statement issued on Monday by ASP Ahmad Rufai, the public relations officer for the Sokoto State Police Command, 30 locals were slain.

The police confirmed that armed bandits had attacked on Saturday, citing Raka, Bilingawa, Raka Dutse, Jaba, Dabagi, and Tsalewa villages in Tangaza LGA as the impacted areas.

"After vigilante members from Raka and Bilingawa went to Azam village to warn them, as a result, they ended up beating up some villagers who are predominantly Fulanis to stop attacking their villages.

“Consequently, the Fulanis called for assistance; unfortunately, the assistance came from armed men suspected to be bandits on board 20 motorcycles.

“On getting the information that assistance is coming from Azam, the vigilante withdrew to their various villages as such the bandits went after them and killed 8 people in Raka, 7 in Bilingawa, 6 in Jaba, 4 in Dabagi, 3 in Raka Dutse and 2 in Tsalewa Villages, set two vehicles ablaze and six huts also set ablaze, while one Bajaj motorcycle strongly believed to be that of the bandits is recovered at the scene.

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