Bandits Kill 15 In Sokoto, Appoints New District Heads – Governor Tambuwal Confirms

 

The killing of 15 villagers by armed bandits has been confirmed by the Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal.

 

Tambuwal confirmed the killing to newsmen in an interview on Monday.

 

He said that the bandits have in the last weekend killed no fewer than fifteen residents of Goronyo and Illela.

 

Recall that state police command had earlier denied the killing, saying nobody was killed in the said councils and describing the reports as fake.

 

However, Tambuwal who appeared on Channels Television programme yesterday, confirmed the attack, noting that the victims were murdered during the raid which happened on Sunday night and last through Monday morning.

 

Tambuwal told reporters that the bandits were bold enough to appoint district heads in affected communities.

 

Governor Tambuwal gave the confirmation shortly before he presented the state’s 2022 draft budget to members of the state House of Assembly.

 

He said: ”12 people were killed in Illela and three others lost their lives in Goronyo.’’

The governor commiserated with the families of those who lost their loved ones to the attacks, as well as people of the affected communities.

 

Meanwhile, a native of one of the affected communities, Idris Gobir, had told VOA Hausa Service in an interview that the bandits had appointed two district heads in the Sabon Birni zone of Sokoto State.

 

He said: “Yesterday (Sunday), the bandits’ leader celebrated the Maulud in Makwaruwa, where he declared himself the district head. The event took place in the presence of the bona fide district head. But when they asked if he had any objection, the bonafide district head, Dan Sani, paid allegiance to the bandits’ leader who usurped his powers.

Gobir noted that the new district head paraded himself in the communities last week Thursday giving orders that mosques should be reopened.

 

He directed that the inhabitants should stop going outside the town for prayers, that they should be performing their prayers in the town.

 

“They control the local justice system and others. He ordered that markets be reopened on Tuesdays,” Gobir noted.

 

Another resident who gave his name as Bashir Altine Guyawa, told journalists that even before the bandits appointed district heads in the area, they had for a long time, been in control of that zone and called the shots.

 

He said: “From Dama where there was an encounter between the bandits and security agents, up to Zango and Gatawa, the bandits are in total control of these areas and dictate daily affairs.