Gunmen suspected to be bandits have struck in two local government areas in Sokoto State, killing three persons while abducting a woman and fifteen Tsangaya students in two separate attacks.
This is even as suspected bandits have also attacked a mosque in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, killing two worshippers in the process.
In the Sokoto attack, a village head was among those killed when the gunmen attacked Turba Village in Isa Local Government Area of the state.
Also in Gada Local Government area of the Sokoto State, fifteen students of Tsangaya School at Gidan Bakuso were reported kidnapped in the early hours of Saturday.
The whereabouts of the student is still unknown as at the time of filling this report.
When contacted, the spokesman of the Sokoto State Police Command, ASP Ahmad Rufa’i, said he was not aware of the development.
He however asked for ample time to contact the Divisional Police Officer of the local government areas to get proper briefing and revert back to our reporter.
Similarly, there is no word yet from the Sokoto State government as news of the twin attacks filtered into town during the unveiling of the state Community Guards Corps, with governors of northwest geopolitical zone in attendance.
But multiple sources confirmed the Isa Local Government attack that claimed the life of the village head, pleading anonymity for the fear of reprisal attack, Vanguard reported.
One of the sources said, “What you are trying to confirm really happened. I cannot comment further because, I don’t want to be the next victim.”
The lawmaker representing, Isa Constituency, Honourable Habibu Modachi who confirmed the incident, linked the attack to a reprisal after security operatives raided suspected bandits’ hideouts two days ago.
On his part, the Proprietor of the attacked Tsangaya School, Liman Abubakar, told journalists that 15 students were unaccounted so far but “we are still counting”, Vanguard reported.
Abubakar said the bandits invaded the town around 1am, shot one person and abducted a woman.
“As they were leaving the town, they sighted our students rushing into their rooms and they kidnapped many of them.
“We have so far counted fifteen who are missing and we are still searching for more,” he said.
Abubakar added that this was not the first time the village was attacked by bandits.
The member, representing Gada-East Constituency at the state House of Assembly, Kabiru Dauda while confirming the attack, said he received around 2 am that the village was being invaded by gunmen.
“I reached out to the local government authorities and security agencies and I am sure they are doing something about it,” he said.
Friday’s attack comes barely 24 hours after 287 students and pupils were kidnapped by bandits at a government secondary and primary school at Kuriga community in Chikun Local Government Area.
The police authorities in Kaduna state have not confirmed the fresh attack at the time of this report.
However, Channels Television reported that a community leader, Sani Usman, disclosed that the bandits invaded the Mosque at Anguwar Makera in Kwasakwasa community in the local government at about 2 p.m. on Friday and opened fire on the worshippers.
He said that two people were gunned down by the bandits in the attack.
According to the source, the Muslim worshippers were observing the second round of the Salat prayers when they were attacked, thereby forcing the remaining people to flee from the Mosque.
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