No fewer than 12 people have been killed in the Sokoto bomb explosion and Plateau killings, the Police have confirmed.
LEADERSHIP gathered that six people died and three other females sustained various degrees of injuries from a suspected improvised explosive device (IED) believed to have been prepared by the Lakurawa terrorists group operating in Sokoto and Kebbi States.
The incident at Gwabro village of Tangaza Local Government Area in Sokoto state has left many wondering about the group’s increased notoriety.
An eyewitness, Malam Hashimu, vividly described what transpired. He said the sad incident happened Sunday afternoon during the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.
Hashimu, who said that as it’s tradition, people, especially youths, usually go from village to village to visit relatives and pay Salah homage, added that it was while on the trip that they encountered the ugly blast.
“They were simply unfortunate. When they saw the device, these innocent victims walked from Gwabro to the neighbouring Zurmuku community. Probably not knowing it was, they might have touched it, thus leading to the explosion”.
Confirming the development, Sokoto State Police Command Spokesperson, ASP Ahmed Rufai, said the explosion led to the death of 6 males and severe injury to 3 females.
Hashimu, who also gave a similar account of the casualties, added that those injured were rushed to Tangaza General Hospital, where they are responding to treatment.
Meanwhile, at least six persons have been confirmed killed in separate attacks in the Bassa and Mangu local government areas of Plateau State.
It was gathered that the victims are primarily women and children.
According to an impeccable source from the community, who did not want his name mentioned, twelve persons were injured and are currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.
In the same vein, residents said the first attack occurred around the Ancha community in Bassa LGA.
In contrast, the second one happened in the Gyenbwas Rinji community in the Langai district of Mangu LGA.
The latest attacks came just a day after four persons and two others were injured, including farmers and herders, who were killed in Uwok-Ishe community of Kakkek district of Bassa while on their way to mining sites.
Meanwhile, the Plateau state Chairman of Gan Allah Fulani Development Association (GAFDAN), Garba Abdullahi, also confirmed the incident to newsmen, disclosing that the victims were declared missing around 3 am while grazing cattle, but their bodies were found in the Ancha community.
“The herders were grazing when the perpetrators dragged them from the grazing area to Ancha and killed them. We have reported the incident to the police and Operation Safe Haven, “the chairman said.
According to him, in Gyenbwas Rinji, two persons, including a woman, were also killed, and many houses were burned.
Aliyu Adamu, an elder brother of one of the deceased, while speaking on the incident, said the attackers stormed the area around 7 am, with the Mwaghavul accused of launching the attack.
“The gunmen arrived in the community in large numbers, shooting sporadically. They killed my brother and one other woman. They burned many houses, “Adamu said.
The acting Chairman of Mwaghavul Youth Development (MYM), Mangu Halle District, Mr. Mangs Fwangkat Isa, told newsmen that the violence in Gyenbwas Kasuwa started when Fulani in the area ambushed three of their members, killing one and injuring two on Sunday evening.
He explained, “Today, (Monday), the FOB command came and pleaded with us. We tried to calm the situation because the youth were angry. While trying to calm down the problem, Fulani came from nowhere and started shooting. Our youth responded because we couldn’t just relax while the security presence was inadequate.
“So, the youth came out with sticks and local cutlasses to pursue the Fulani. During the incident, two people were killed. Based on what the injured ones told us, the soldiers, not even Fulani, killed the victims. Ten persons were injured and are currently receiving medical attention in Halle and Mangu general hospitals,” the acting chairman said.
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