BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto
Bandits on Wednesday unleashed terror on Takakume village of Goronyo local government, Sokoto state killing six persons and abducting 15 others while many sustained injuries.
The bandits who reportedly stormed the sleepy farming settlement at about midnight, shot sporadically at anything on sight, said a source from the affected village.
Narrating what transpired in a grief stricken voice, one of the villagers who preferred not to be mentioned for security reasons, said they were shocked and at a loss why the attackers were so brutal on them.
His words: “”Fulani bandits invaded our village of Takakume in Goronyo local government at about 12 midnight that day. They were shooting sporadically at anything in sight.
“After they left, in the morning, we discovered that they have killed three persons, wounded two and kidnapped 15 others”.
Collaborating the position of the first source, another local who gave his name as Takakume said the dead could be higher than eight and those kidnapped could be more than 30 as they were still searching for their loved ones after the attack.
Giving instance from his own immediate family, Takakume said, “three women and my cousin, Sa’adu Monitor, were among those abducted. These Fulani invaders also killed one of my senior brothers and another nephew, Salisu Ilyasu”‘, he lamented
While calling on the state and federal governments to do the needful by ensuring protection and security of all citizens before the consistent invasions by the bandits degenerate into full-blown tribal clashes, Takakume warned that if that was not done, they will be forced to defend themselves.
Recalling how the Eastern Senatorial District of Sokoto State has consistently remained the operational base of bandits over the years, Takakume lamented that “”Shinaka town of Goronyo Local Government was attacked on Friday last week when people were about to say their Jumu’at prayer.
“‘These bandits had earlier attacked Giyawa, Kojiyo, Ɓijeji, Ƙirare, Ɓare and other towns in Goronyo Local Government where they killed many, abducted scores and collected ransom before they releasing their victims.”
The locals also appealed to Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, to hasten up the recruitment of Civilian Joint Task Force as the bandits are now becoming more daring in killings, maiming, raping and destruction of lives and property in Sokoto East particularly and Sokoto State in general.
“Villages of Sokoto East Senatorial Districts are now safe havens for these terrorists-bandit fleeing the onslaught on their hideouts in Katsina State and Zamfara States by both security agencies and the CJTF. If nothing is done urgently, they will sack all towns and villages in Senatorial District sooner than envisaged,” one of the villagers warned.
Efforts to get police confirmation at the time of filing this report proved abortive as the Public Relations Officer of the Command did not pick his calls nor respond to message regarding the incident.
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