A dawn to dusk terror attack on Duma Village in Tureta Local Government Area of Sokoto State claimed at least 20 lives yesterday.
A discreet source confirmed the incident to the Tribune, saying the assailants invaded the village around 8 am on Wednesday and wreaked havoc until 7 pm. During the attack, cattle and other livestock were rustled, WikkiTimes learnt. According to reports, residents were compelled to move the livestock out of the town for the bandits.
The terrorists, who arrived in large numbers on motorcycles, were carrying sophisticated weapons and indiscriminately shooting at residents, the source added.
READ: Escaping Bandits To Biting Hunger: The Life Of IDPs In Kebbi Camps
Some of the victims lost their lives in a stampede while fleeing the terror scene. The victims lost their lives while attempting to escape the attack by diving into the river, where most of them drowned.
Despite Gov’s Visit, Police Debunk Attack
The police spokesman in the state, Sanusi Abubakar, told WikkiTimes the incident was not a terror attack. He argued that the gunshots emanated from coordinated operations in the forest.
” It was gunshot sounds that made people to panic and 23 persons drown in river. Nobody was killed and attacked,” the police spokesman said. Although he admitted that there were some bandits in that operation but were not actually attacking. “We will update you soonest regarding the victims.”
Following the attack, Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, led a delegation of security personnel alongside government officials on a condolence visit to the village. The governor and his entourage, observed their Juma’at prayers in the village, where special prayers were held for the deceased souls.
The villagers, while lamenting the unfortunate event to the governor, said some of the youth the bandits forced to lead the livestock out of the town are still in captivity and the bandits are requesting a huge ransom to set them free.
Tureta LGA shares borders with Zamfara State and it is one of the local government areas in Sokoto that has witnessed numerous attacks, with a number of travelers kidnapped and others shot dead.
On July 4, 2022, terrorists killed four farmers and kidnapped a teenager in Rabba LGA, Sokoto. Three weeks before the attack, about 50 people were abducted in Dogon Awo, in Tureta LGA.
