1 Shot, 28 Cattle Rustled As Police Confirm Bandit Attack In Sokoto

Sokoto State Police Command has confirmed an attack by suspected bandits on Gidan Asarki community behind Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), where one person was shot and 28 cattle rustled.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the incident occurred at about 9 pm on Sunday, throwing residents of the agrarian community into panic.

The police spokesperson, DSP Ahmed Rufai, confirmed the incident, yesterday.

Rufai said the gunmen invaded Gidan Asarki village located behind the Juma’at Mosque of the university and shot the owner of the cattle in the leg before escaping with the animals.

A senior police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the victim had been identified as Malam Shehu Muhammad.

“The attackers invaded a house in Gidan Sarki and shot the owner, identified as Malam Shehu Muhammad, in the leg. He is responding to treatment.

“They also rustled 28 cows belonging to him and his son, Mustapha Shehu,” the officer said.

He added that the Command had directed the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Wamakko local government area to mobilise personnel to the community.

Some residents of the community told our correspondent that the bandits threatened to attack students living in the area.
“They threatened us to bring out the students living in this community, but thank God it was during the holiday, although some newly admitted students were around for registration,” a resident said.

Another resident, who identified himself simply as Hussaini, said the victim survived the attack.

“When they were shooting, an old man was shot in the leg, but he is alive, and we have taken him to the hospital,” Hussaini said.

Similarly, another resident, Jameel Muhammad, said, “Wallahi, they have gone with more than 20 cows, and they shot the owner in the leg.”

A staff of the university, who pleaded anonymity, clarified that the attack did not occur within the main campus but in the adjoining host community.

Meanwhile, efforts to get the reaction of the university management were unsuccessful, as its spokesman, Ismail Muhammad Yauri, declined comment, saying the institution was not involved in the incident.

As of the time of filing this report at 12 pm on Monday, there were no confirmed reports of death or abduction.

The victim, according to the police, is responding to treatment.