Four people were killed and several others injured when suspected bandits wearing military uniforms attacked Unguwan Lalle community in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The attack started around 8 p.m. on Sunday and lasted until about 2 a.m. on Monday. The attackers looted homes and shops and rustled an unspecified number of livestock.
Residents said about 200 heavily armed men stormed the community from different directions, initially making people believe they were security personnel.
“We thought they were soldiers because they were wearing military uniforms. They surrounded the village, opened fire on anyone trying to escape, ransacked our homes, carted away our livestock and looted goods from our shops,” a resident said.
The victims were identified as Bilyaminu Wakkala and Danbaki Tulunawa. The other two were residents of nearby Kongurus village who often stayed overnight in Unguwan Lalle because of insecurity in their community.
Residents said the attack happened less than an hour after troops who had responded to a separate bandit attack left the village.
A resident said the military had arrived in two armoured vehicles after bandits allegedly killed a farmer earlier that day.
“The soldiers responded quickly and stayed in the village until about 8 p.m. before returning to their base. Just a few minutes after they left, the bandits came back wearing military uniforms,” he said.
He said the attackers struck during Isha prayer, using other routes to avoid the main road where a military checkpoint was located.
“They entered through other routes and positioned some of their men with RPGs at strategic locations. The first victim was a motorcycle rider, followed by three others who tried to flee. They searched our houses repeatedly and even threatened to shoot my mother when she came out of her room,” the resident recounted.
Efforts to get official reactions were unsuccessful. Sabon Birni LGA Chairman, Alhaji Ayuba Hashimu, and Sokoto State House of Assembly member representing Sabon Birni North, Hon. Aminu Boza, did not answer repeated calls.
Police spokesperson DSP Ahmad Rufa’i confirmed the killing of a farmer but said he had not been briefed about the reported community attack.
“I have received a report confirming the killing of one person in the area on Sunday. However, I have not yet been briefed about the other reported attack on the community,” he said.
