Suspected bandits killed five farmers and wounded five others in raids on Ghandi and Gidan Kare communities in Rabah Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The attacks happened between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. on Sunday as people were heading to their farms. A security source said three farmers were killed in Ghandi and two in Gidan Kare, where the attackers also set some houses on fire. Five others with gunshot wounds were taken to hospital.
The strike came barely two days after security operatives reportedly ambushed and killed several suspected bandits in the area. The security source said the latest assault was suspected to be a reprisal for the killing of some bandits during the operation.
“We suspect it was a reprisal attack following the last operation by security operatives, which led to the killing of 15 bandits at Maikujera,” the source said.
Security personnel were sent to the affected communities, but the attackers had already slipped away.
“We went to the area, but we could not get them because they had left before our arrival,” the source added.
When contacted, spokesman for the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmad Rufa’i, said he had not yet been briefed on the incident.
“I have not been briefed yet. Let me get the details and get back to you,” Rufa’i said.
He had yet to provide further information as of the time the report was filed.
