BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto-
No fewer than 12 persons have been killed on Sunday as bandits and local vigilantes clashed in Gandi Village in Rabah Local Government Area of Sokoto State, locals confirmed.
The bandits numbering over 50, were armed with dangerous weapons and were said to have traced and killed Adamu Goje, the leader of vigilantes group in his farm along Tsamiya axis in Gandi Rabah LGA of the state.
It was gathered that the bandits carried out the dastardly attack in sheer revenge over the recent killing of two of their members who came from Zamfara State into the area.
Giving details of the attack via a telephone call, one of the locals who pleaded anonimity said, the bandits have their informants everywhere which was why they were able to monitor Adamu Goje’s movement.
“They traced him to his farm. A Fadama land around Tsamiya axis. We learnt the bandits were over 50 with each of them carrying weapons”.
“The late brave Adamu Goje is the leader of our local vigilantee also known as Yansakai. Yansakai is a local security outfit set up by various communities suffering from banditry and terrorism threats. They have helped in repelling possible attacks”.
“Yansakai have helped in no small measure towards ensuring that they curtail or repel attacks on innocent locals using local guns and amulets”.
Angered by the development, local vigilantes of Gandi village were said to have gone after the bandits resulting into casualties on both side.
“I cannot say for sure whether all those killed are the Yansakai or the bandits at the moment. However, all I can say is that, we have counted about 12 dead bodies which I am very sure comprises of both the bandits and our local vigilantee”. A native of Gandi said.
Although, the State Police Command’s spokesperson, ASP Sanusi Abubakar could not confirm the incident as at the time of filing this report, noting that he was yet to get official information on the incident.
The police spokeperson, however, added tha he would release an official statement regarding the incident as soon as possible.