3 killed, 4 injured in fresh bandits’ raid on Sokoto community

Three people have been killed and four others seriously injured following a late-night attack by suspected bandits on the Gorau community in Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State. Residents said the attackers stormed the village around midnight on Monday, firing indiscriminately with sophisticated weapons. Following the random shooting, three victims were confirmed dead, while […]

Three people have been killed and four others seriously injured following a late-night attack by suspected bandits on the Gorau community in Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

Residents said the attackers stormed the village around midnight on Monday, firing indiscriminately with sophisticated weapons.

Following the random shooting, three victims were confirmed dead, while four others sustained gunshot wounds and were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Multiple sources within the community also reported that several residents were abducted during the attack, although the exact number remains unclear, as some of those initially taken were said to have escaped amid a swift response by security forces, particularly the army, which intervened and forced the assailants to flee.

A resident, who requested anonymity, suggested the bandits might have been motivated by economic factors, noting that the community had recently recorded a bumper harvest.

According to the source, the attackers may have intended to abduct villagers for ransom.

The village head, Alhaji Aliyu Magaji Gorau, described the incident as the 12th attack on the community, noting that previous assaults had been curtailed in recent years due to local security measures.

“This is the 12th time our community has been attacked, usually around this period. The last incident occurred about two years ago after we adopted certain security strategies.

“They came in large numbers and overpowered our vigilantes, who could not match their firepower. The casualty figure could have been higher if not for the timely intervention of troops,” he said.

He added that some abducted residents escaped during the military response, as the attackers abandoned them while retreating.

“However, authorities are still working to determine how many people remain in captivity,” he said.

The Chairman of Goronyo Local Government Area, Hon Zubairu Yari, also confirmed the attack and expressed concern over a recent surge in violence across communities in the area.

Residents in nearby Isa and Sabon Birni had earlier been warned by local sources of increased movements of armed groups believed to be loyal to notorious bandit leader, Bello Turji.

Efforts to reach the spokesperson of the Sokoto State Police Command for official comment were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.