Gunmen kill 24 in Sokoto, Plateau communities

Gunmen have killed at least 24 people and injured several others in separate attacks on communities in Sokoto and Plateau states. The attacks, which occurred on Sunday, claimed 17 lives in Sokoto State and seven in Plateau State, according to residents and community leaders. In Sokoto, suspected bandits attacked Dangulbi community in Tureta Local Government Area, killing 17 people, including seven visitors who had travelled to the area for the Eid-el-Kabir celebration. Residents said the attackers, armed with sophisticated weapons and riding on about 150 motorcycles, stormed the community between 10 and 11am, shooting indiscriminately, looting shops and forcing residents to flee into nearby forests. A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons, alleged that the attackers departed from Bagega village in Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara State and passed through Barayar Zaki in neighbouring Bukkuyum LGA before spending the night in Gizazza village ahead of the attack. “We received information about their movement on Saturday. Usually, whenever they want to attack our communities, they spend the night in nearby villages before launching the assault the following morning,” he said. The source said the attackers remained in the community for several hours after the killings, preventing residents from burying the victims until they left around 7pm. “They stayed in the village and nobody could come out to bury the dead. Funeral prayers were eventually conducted later that night after they left,” he said. According to him, five of the victims were visitors from Adarawa in Gummi Local Government Area of Zamfara State, while two others came from Gidan Gambo in Shagari Local Government Area of Sokoto State. Residents said about 20 shops were looted during the attack, while many families abandoned their homes and fled to neighbouring communities in Tureta, Shagari, Gummi and Bukkuyum local government areas. The attackers reportedly moved to nearby communities, including Kukoki and Birnin Magaji, where they abducted some residents. However, the captives later escaped during a rainstorm that caused confusion among their abductors. A resident alleged that the bandits returned to some neighbouring villages on Monday morning and continued shooting. “As I am speaking, I am hiding somewhere and can still hear gunshots,” he claimed. The residents appealed to the federal and Sokoto State governments to deploy more security personnel to the area and improve road infrastructure to enable faster security response. They warned that persistent attacks could affect farming activities, as many villagers were now afraid to return to their farmlands. The residents also recalled that the latest attack was one of several deadly incidents recorded in the area in recent weeks, with dozens of people reportedly killed in previous raids. When contacted, the spokesperson of the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmad Rufai, said security operatives were aware of the incident and had taken control of the situation. In Plateau State, seven people were killed and more than 10 others injured when gunmen attacked Gwom-Ajang village in Foron District of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area. The attackers reportedly invaded the community at about 9.30pm on Sunday and opened fire indiscriminately on residents. The National Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youth Moulder-Association, Rwang Tengwong, who confirmed the attack, described it as another tragic reminder of the persistent security challenges confronting communities in the state. He called on the government to intensify efforts to end the recurring violence, noting that the attacks had claimed many lives and destroyed property over the years. Tengwong also urged security agencies to strengthen protection for vulnerable communities and ensure that those responsible for the killings were apprehended and prosecuted. Police spokesperson Alfred Alabo said the state command had reinforced security presence in Barkin Ladi to prevent further attacks and assist in ongoing investigations.