Sokoto: Slain Village head, son, others buried amid tears

The Village Head of Kulodo community, his eldest son and four other victims have been buried following a deadly bandit attack on Kulodo and neighbouring Kwamtsi villages in Bodinga Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

Daily Trust gathered that five of the victims were killed in Kulodo village, while another resident was killed in neighbouring Kwamtsi.

Four persons were abducted and two others sustained injuries during the attack.

Residents said the bandits invaded the communities on Thursday evening, but the bodies of those killed could not be evacuated until late Friday evening because of fears that the attackers were still lurking in the area.

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It was only after security personnel and senior government officials arrived in the affected communities that the bodies were recovered and taken for burial.

A Nigeria Red Cross official, Ahmad Suleiman, who participated in the recovery of the bodies, preparation for burial and funeral arrangements in accordance with Islamic rites, confirmed to Daily Trust that volunteers worked alongside security agencies and community members throughout the exercise.

After the burial, the Red Cross official was seen in a video obtained by Daily Trust speaking with residents, who recounted the attack and described it as devastating and traumatic.

One of the residents said about 150 armed bandits riding motorcycles invaded the communities, with two to three gunmen on each motorcycle.

“They surrounded our villages, shooting indiscriminately before moving from house to house and shop to shop. They rustled more than 200 livestock and looted shops and homes,” he said.

According to him, most of those killed were shot inside their homes while trying to hide from the attackers.

He added that the Village Head of Kulodo and his eldest son were shot dead at the entrance to their house while attempting to escape.

The resident described the late village head as a respected community leader who dedicated his life to serving the people, adding that his eldest son was equally known for supporting members of the community.

Another elderly resident said the attackers looted cash, mobile phones and other valuables from several households.

He alleged that one resident, identified as Alhaji Shehu, lost more than N1 million in cash and over 40 cattle during the attack.

“They went from house to house and from room to room, taking away anything of value. They spared almost nothing,” he said.

The resident commended the visit by senior government officials, including the Secretary to the Sokoto State Government, Muhammad Bello Sifawa; the member representing Bodinga, Dange Shuni and Tureta Federal Constituency, Nasiru Shehu Bobo; the Speaker of the Sokoto State House of Assembly, Tukur Bala Bodinga; the chairman of Bodinga Local Government Area; the Commissioner of Police, represented by the Area Commander of the Bodinga Area Command; military personnel, DSS operatives and other officials who supervised the evacuation of the bodies and ensured that the victims received proper Islamic burial rites.

Daily Trust reports that before the burial in Kulodo, another victim killed during the attacks had earlier been laid to rest at the palace of the District Head of Bodinga.

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