Mohammed Aminu in Sokoto
No fewer than 13 people lost their lives following a clash between suspected bandits and members of the vigilante group in Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
THISDAY checks revealed that the incident occurred on Friday after a
failed attempt by the bandits to kidnap an elderly man at Dan Tasango village in Gebe district of Isa Local Government Area.
It was also gathered that the man was said to have resisted their attempt to abduct him and as a result they killed him.
Irked by their frequent attacks, members of the vigilante group mobilised themselves to trail the bandits, but unknowingly, the (bandits) had laid in ambush along Kamarawa-Bafarawa axis which resulted to a gun duel.
A resident of the area, who pleaded anonymity, told THISDAY on Monday
that the bandits killed seven members of the group and lost five of their men during the battle.
“It is true that they (bandits) lost five of their men but they quickly evacuated their corpses which has been their usual trend because they don’t want to leave any trace,” he said.
The Police Public Relations Officer and Deputy Superintendent of Police, Cordelia Nwawe, who confirmed the incident Monday, said only eight people lost their lives during the attack, including the elderly man who died in the hospital.
She said investigation was still ongoing with a view to unravelling those behind the dastardly act.
The PPRO disclosed that the bandits were from neighbouring Zamfara State and had been making life unbearable for the residents of the area.
“The Commissioner of Police Murtala Usman Mani had already visited the village where he condoled with the families of the victims of the attack.
“In fact, he assured the villagers that the command is determined to fish out the perpetrators of the heinous crime and protect them against future attack,” she added.
