Bandits unleashed terror on Tsamaye village in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State, killing worshippers inside a mosque, abducting residents and looting property during a six-hour rampage.
Residents said the heavily armed attackers invaded the community at about 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday and did not leave until about 3:00 a.m. on Wednesday. They rustled livestock, raided homes, carted away valuables and fired gunshots throughout the night.
The attackers reportedly struck after surrounding security operatives stationed in the village and opening fire on them, trapping them in their base and preventing them from responding as the bandits went from house to house abducting residents and stealing livestock.
The gunmen then stormed a mosque where worshippers were sitting after the Isha’i prayer and opened fire, killing at least three people. A resident said the victims were displaced persons who had fled to Tsamaye after repeated bandit attacks on neighbouring communities.
By Wednesday morning, villagers recovered seven bodies after the attackers fled. Residents said two of the victims were indigenes of Tsamaye, while the other five were displaced persons who had taken refuge in the village.
The bandits also broke into several shops, looted goods, set a vehicle ablaze and burnt two shops before fleeing with an unspecified number of livestock.
The exact number of abducted residents could not immediately be confirmed because many villagers escaped into nearby bushes during the attack. However, a resident said at least three kidnappings had been confirmed after relatives called the victims’ phone numbers and the bandits answered, saying the captives were in their custody.
Residents said the security operatives were caught off guard, allowing the gunmen to pin them down throughout the attack while the village was left at the mercy of the bandits.
