Bandits have reportedly killed over 32 people during attacks on Ungushi community in Kebbe Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
According to a report by Dailytrust, residents said the criminal elements stormed the community on Friday and continued their vicious attack until Saturday morning, killing several residents and setting fire to houses, shops and vehicles.
A resident who witnessed the attack and participated in the burial of some of the victims on Sunday said the bandits stormed the community at about 2:15pm while residents were observing Jumu’a prayers.
He said the attackers parked their motorcycles in front of the mosque, dispersed worshippers and moved into the town, where they killed five people.
“After they left, we went to prepare for the burial of the victims. But they returned and killed two more people. Then they started coming from different directions, shooting continuously and surrounding the town,” he said.
According to the resident, people who were inside their houses fled, while others climbed a hill in the community in an attempt to escape the attackers.
He said he also managed to reach the hill by jumping across compounds, but later heard the bandits ordering their men to kill every man they encountered while sparing women and children.
The resident said the attackers eventually opened fire on those hiding on the hill.
“I saw some people who were with me on the hill being killed. By God’s grace, I managed to descend behind the hill and escaped into a farm, where I hid,” he said.
He said the attackers remained in the community until about 1am on Saturday before leaving, but returned later in the morning and continued killing residents.
According to him, the attackers eventually withdrew after security personnel arrived in the area.
The resident said residents returned to the community on Sunday and began searching for victims’ bodies.
“Today, some people were conducting funeral prayers for the victims while others were going around looking for more bodies. Eventually, we recovered and buried 32 bodies,” he said.
He also claimed that he personally saw the bodies of 13 bandits killed by residents during the attack, but said the attackers later returned and removed the bodies of their colleagues.
The resident said the bandits also set fire to seven houses, two shops and three vehicles, although rain prevented the fire from causing more extensive damage.
He said the attackers also invaded Umbutu, Maikurhuna, Gwandi, Girkau and Zugu communities, where they allegedly stole large numbers of livestock and other valuables without killing residents.
According to him, he heard that a military aircraft carried out an air strike against the attackers at about 6pm on Sunday in Indiri, forcing them to flee from Zugu.
He said it remained unclear whether some residents were still in the affected communities, as many had fled to Kebbe, Jega, Koko, Tambuwal, Aleiro, Agwada, Andarai, Jandutsi and other larger towns in Sokoto and Kebbi states.
The resident also said the General Officer Commanding, 8 Division, Nigerian Army, Sokoto, visited displaced residents in Kebbe on Sunday evening.
He said the GOC arrived with more than 200 soldiers and Hilux vehicles loaded with weapons, describing the visit as encouraging.
“We appreciate the visit and believe it will help in addressing the security situation in our area,” he said.
He appealed to the government to pay greater attention to residents of remote communities, particularly during the rainy season when movement becomes difficult.
