A gang of bandits has killed a policeman, Hussaini Manyu, and two other people following an attack on a community in Sokoto State, causing massive grief in the area.
The terrorists were said to have engaged police officers, who were on duty, in a gun duel, one of the latter, shot dead, as well as two other residents dying of gunshot wounds, and also other people gruesomely injured and an unspecified number of cattle rustled.
During the attack at Girkau area in Kebbe Local Government yesterday, the terrorists were als said to have set two police and the state’s Community Guard Corps vehicles ablaze, after the both bodies reacted to a distress call by the community residents over the terrorists acts by the armed men.
The command’s spokesperson, Ahmed Rufai, while confirming the incident on Tuesday, said, ”It is unfortunate that we lost one of our men during the attack. We received a distress call from the community and immediately mobilized our personnel to the scene.
”We were able to repel the Lakurawa bandits, but during the exchange of gunfire, they burnt two vehicles, one belonging to the police and the other to the Sokoto State Community Corps.”
Rufai added that one of the killed residents, Bala Wakili, an elderly resident was shot while a young man died of gunshots after refusing to surrender his cattle to the attackers.
A resident in the state, on anonymity, said that a farmer was also shot in his farm and is currently receiving life-saving care at the hospital. He added that a woman was forcefully assaulted by the attackers after refusing an attempted sexual proposal.
”This is the worst attack we have had in the past months,” a community leader said.
”What happened in Girkau is heartbreaking. We lost a police officer who was defending the community, an elderly man and a young herder. Our people are living in fear because these attacks are becoming too frequent.”
Another resident who craved anonymity for security reasons, said the community had repeatedly alerted security agencies to suspicious movements around the area before the attack.
“We had been calling for more security presence because we noticed unusual movements around the area. Unfortunately, our fears have now become reality.
“Innocent people have been killed, families have been thrown into mourning and many residents have fled for safety,” the resident said.