5 killed in fresh Sokoto attack

Bandits have attacked Girkau community in Kebbe Local Government Area of Sokoto State, killing at least five people, injuring three others and rustling an unspecified number of cattle.

The attack occurred at about 2:15 pm on Thursday when the assailants, who were said to have arrived in large numbers on motorcycles, invaded the community and opened fire sporadically.

A resident, Usman Girkau, said the attack occurred as residents were preparing for Zuhr prayers.

“We were preparing for Zuhr prayer when they attacked us. They started shooting sporadically,” he said.

He said people were killed in Girkau, Jibga and Dukura communities.

He also said another person drowned while attempting to escape from the attackers.

However, a security operative who confirmed the incident said five people were killed in the attack, while three others sustained gunshot injuries and were taken to General Hospital, Tambuwal, for treatment.

The officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly on the incident, identified the deceased as Dogo Dan Barkeji, 50; Baban Gida Abdullahi, 28; Abubakar Dan Yaki, 50; and Abubakar Aliyu, 35.

He said the fifth victim was an unidentified person from Dukura who had travelled to Girkau on an errand.

The injured victims were identified as Jamilu Abubakar, Dahiru Yahaya and Adamu Mohammed.

The officer added that the attackers rustled an unspecified number of cattle during the operation.

When contacted, the spokesman for the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmad Rufa’i, said he had not yet been briefed on the incident.

The resident said the attack was the latest in a series of assaults on the community, recalling that suspected bandits had attacked Girkau about a month ago, during which two people were shot, and livestock were rustled.