Suspected bandits terrorising the northern part of the country have reportedly killed 37 persons in a fresh attack on three communities in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
Many were also injured during the attack which was to have taken place on Saturday night.
According to a community leader, Alhaji Ibrahim Yusuf, who spoke to newsmen on Sunday, the affected communities were Raka, Raka Dutse and Filin Gawa.
Also confirming the attack, the immediate past chairman of the local government, Alhaji Bashar Kalenjeni, said 18 persons were killed at Raka, 17 at Filin Gawa and two at Raka Dutse.
He said, “We wanted to bury them in the night, but the bandits came back and dispersed us. As at this morning (Sunday), the deceased are still there unburied.”
He said the bandits angrily killed the villagers because they refused to pay the levy imposed on the entire members of the communities by bandits.
He said there are other villagers who are still unaccounted for, adding, “Right now, we are waiting for security operatives to lead us to the villages in order to bury the dead ones.
Spokesman of the Sokoto State Police Command, ASP Ahmad Rufa’i, has not issued a statement regarding the incident.