Bandits kill 18 persons in Sokoto

.Presidency sympathises with Sokoto over killings

Andrew Orolua and Mathew Dadiya, Abuja

Rampaging gunmen suspected to be bandits seeking land occupation have killed no fewer than 18 persons across villages in Rabah Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

The attack also left four others persons seriously wounded with various degrees of injuries, the chairman, Zakkat and Endowment Commission and member, Sokoto State committee on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), Malam Lawal Maidoki, said on Sunday.

Maidoki, who disclosed this to reporters in Sokoto, said that council chairman and a team of joint security operatives have been drafted to Rakumni, Tsage and Kalgo for rescue operation and to pick the corpses for burial.

He described the incident as one of the most recent dastardly attacks in the state. Similar deadly attacks were carried out across 8 villages in Rabah Local Government Area last year with several people killed and displaced.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed deep shock and sadness over the death of scores of people in the banditry attacks which occurred on Saturday in three communities in Rabah Local Government Area (LGA) of Sokoto State.

The Daily Times gathered that no fewer than 50 people were killed in four villages in the local governments.

Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu on Sunday, stated that President Buhari was briefed about the incident and the arrests so far made by the Police and has condoled with Governor Aminu Tambuwal and the people of the state over the tragic incident.

The President strongly condemned all acts of violence and terrorism against innocent Nigerians, reiterating that perpetrators and sponsors of such dastardly acts would be held accountable under the law.

The President prayed for the quick recovery of all those injured and assured that his administration will not relent in the fight to neutralise terrorists, bandits and kidnappers around the country.

The victims were buried on Saturday according to Islamic rites, with Governor Aminu Tambuwal, SSG, Commissioner of Police, and some other government functionaries in attendance.

According to source, in Isa local government area, about 25 people were killed with several others injured.

The source said that the bandits stormed Sapiru village, in Tozai ward in Isa local government area at about 5pm on more than 30 motorcycles.

The witness narrated that the bandits entered the town shooting sporadically, killing 18 people instantly while another seven later died.

He added that 14 people were currently receiving treatment at the general hospital.

“Another two who were in critical conditions were moved to Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), and another one to the Orthopeadic hospital in Wamakko,” a news source reported.

Also in Rabah local government, where Governor Tambuwal attended the burial rites, 25 people in Kalfu, Tsage, Rakonni and Geeri villages were killed in another attack.

The police spokesman in the state, ASP Sadiq Abubakar, while confirming the incidents, said four suspects had been arrested.

“Four suspects have been arrested in connection with the weekend attacks; they are in our custody, and will sure help us in our investigation,” he added.

A security source said that a woman, pretending to have psychiatric issues, alleged to be an informant to the bandits, was among the four suspects in police custody.

Meanwhile, Governor Aminu Tambuwal, while condoling with survivors, mandated the Sokoto Zakat committee, Isa and Rabah local government councils, to come to the aid of the internally-displaced persons.