July 30, (THEWILL) – At least 28 persons have been killed, others kidnapped and hundreds of livestock rustled, following bandits’ attack on Duma Village in Tureta Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
Locals said the bandits attacked the village as early as 8:00 AM on Wednesday and stayed till 7:00 pm terrorising them and rustling livestock.
Narrating how the incident happened, a local, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the terrorists were all armed to the teeth with sophisticated weapons and entered the village using over 50 motorcycles with about 3 on each bike.
“When the terrorists came, they opened fire from all directions leading to panic. In that panic situation, many ran for their lives, but unfortunately, over 20 persons ran into the river and died because they couldn’t swim. Others died as a result of the gunshots by the dreaded terrorists”, the source said, adding that the bandits ordered some of the able bodied young men to control hundred of the livestock they rustled to their hide outs in the forest.
The source said some of the youth the bandits forced to lead the livestock out of the town are still with the terrorists who are demanding that they be given premium motor spirit (petrol) in large quantities before the youth will be released.
Meanwhile, Governor Aminu Tambuwal on Friday, led a team of security personnel and other government officials on a condolence visit to the village.
The governor observed the juma’at prayers where special prayers were held for the repose of the souls of the victims.
Sokoto state like many others in the north west has continued to suffer attacks from terrorists. Most affected LGAs in the state include: Tureta, Sabon Birni, Goronyo, Isa, Tangaza and Tureta.
Some of these LGAs share borders with Zamfara State, which is considered as the operational base for these terrorists.
Spokesperson of the State Police Command, DSP Sanusi Abubakar, could not be reached to confirm the incident at the time of filing this report.
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