The recent attack by bandits in several communities in Sokoto State has seen residents of the affected communities flee following the death of four people.
The Commissioner of Security Matters in the state, Garba Moyi, noted that livestock was also rustled in the attack.
Moyi disclosed that three people were killed at Bargaja village in Isa local government area, while one was killed in a community in Sabon Birni local government area.
According to DailyTrust, the bandits stormed Bargaja around 2 pm on Thursday, shooting sporadically.
A resident of Isa, identified as Surajo, said inhabitants of Bargaja, Tozai, Turba and Danzanke had all relocated to Isa town following series of attacks on their villages.
“They don’t sleep in their places any more. Only some of their men who have farmlands nearer to the village go back every morning to work on them and rush back to Isa town before sunset,” he said.
Another resident, identified as Malam Sanusi, said Gatawa in Sabon Birni local government is now flooded with refugees from neighbouring villages.
According to him, the villages include, Makera, Dankura, Burkusuma, Kumaro, Garin Tunkiya, Zangon Malam and Asha Banza.
He disclosed that one Malam Bilya Idris, otherwise known as Idi Gago, was killed at Dankura village, and Malam Abdulmajid Abdurrahman, Muhammadu Hatimu and Yazzid Sa’idu lost their lives during Zangon Malam’s attack some weeks ago.
He added that most people that lost their lives were either the vigilante group or those who lost their animals and decided to pursue the bandits.
“That is why we don’t encourage the villagers to engage them because we have our ways of recovering whatever they have stolen.
“We use their brothers who embraced peace to recover the animals and even their weapons as well as secure the release of kidnapped victims,” he said.
In another development, bandits have attacked Kagara in Niger State, killing four and abducting 11, including seven children in different villages.
Naija News had earlier reported that the kidnapped students and staff of the Government Science College in Kagara, Niger State were on Saturday morning released by their abductors.