May 10, (THEWILL) – Gunmen suspected to be bandits, have invaded Gurbin Magarya community of Jibia local government area of Katsina State, killing three persons and leaving three others with gunshot wounds.
Sources said the bandits came on motorcycles at the weekend and attacked the community around 10 pm.
They allegedly blocked all entries into the community during the operation and killed livestock belonging to the residents of the area.
“If not because of the soldiers and vigilante members stationed on the road leading to the communities from Jibia, the bandits would have wiped out the whole community.
“The vigilante members and soldiers were very brave in repelling the attackers, but before their arrival, the bandits had already killed three people”, the source said.
Meanwhile, in another incident at Takakume Village of Goronyo Local Government Area in Sokoto State, five villagers have been reported killed by gunmen.
Local sources said the incident occured in the late hours of Sunday, 8th May, 2022.
The perpetrators, the locals alleged, were Fulani herdsmen, who had stayed with them for a while.
Having suffered attacks and another aborted one in recent time, the locals of Takakume village, like most of their counterparts, had formed vigilantes to ward off bandits and defend them as well.
During the said attack, it was learnt that the vigilantes repelled them leading to the death of one of their members, whom the locals recognised as one of the Fulani boys whom his parents and grandparents are well known.
Two of the bandits, who also sustained gunshots from the locals, were dumped within Gundomi forest and were recovered by the locals before they handed them over to security agencies the following day.
Speaking on the development, one of the bereaved locals, said: “We are still in shock over how those we lived together for years would wake up overnight and attack us without any provocation.
“These people are Fulanis that have lived around our community for ages. We lived in peace. Though, other villages that have suffered attacks have continued to warn us about these people. But we refused to take them seriously, because we trusted them as our neighbours. But Alas, we were all wrong. They attacked and killed our loved ones mercilessly.”
Expressing worries over how the Eastern Senatorial axis of Sokoto State has become a theatre of gory tales, orchestrated by these bandits lately, another local wrote on his Facebook wall that the killing of four innocent women and one man was the worst form of barbarism.
The message reads, “What happened in Takakume on the night of Sunday, 8th May, 2022, was one of the most horrific displays of barbarism by Fulani bandits that attacked the peace loving community.
“Five women and a man were lined up and shot for no reason by persons who lived around their community. Takakume is the only settlement in that area where Fulani were free to enter and go out without fear of being attacked.
“They have betrayed the trust. May Allah bring a quick end to these bloodlettings.”
Meanwhile, efforts to get police confirmation at the time of filing this report were unsuccessful, as the State Police spokesperson promised to call back, but never did.
Also, when contacted for comment, The Goronyo Local Government Council Chairman, Hon Abdulwahab Yahaya did not pick up his call nor return it.
