13 die as bandits, vigilante group clash in Sokoto

A clash between suspected bandits and members of vigilante group in Isa local government area of Sokoto State has left 13 people dead.

The clash was said to have occurred after a failed attempt by the bandits to kidnap an elderly man at Dan Tasango village in Gebe district last Friday.

The man was said to have resisted their attempts as a result of which the bandits shot him dead.

Irked by the frequent attacks, members of the vigilante group mobilized themselves to trail the bandits. They were however ambushed by the bandits along Kamarawa-Bafarawa axis which resulted to a gun duel.

According to eye witness accounts, the bandits killed seven members of the group and lost five of their men during the battle.

The Public Relation Officer of the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Cordelia Nwawe, who confirmed the attack, said eight people died, including the elderly man.

According to her, investigation is still ongoing to unravel the perpetrators, adding that the bandits were from the neighbouring Zamfara state.

“The commissioner of police was in the village where he condoled the families of the victims of the attack and assured them of our determination and commitment to fish out the perpetrators and to protect them and other peace loving people of the state against future attacks,” she said.