Six bandits suspected to have been the perpetrators of the attack on Tangaza community, Sokoto state, have been killed and set ablaze by angry residents of the community.
On Saturday morning, the residents along with the vigilante members of the community, and Police officers, armed with local guns and cutlasses, combed the forest for the hoodlums.
Two of the bandits were killed in the ensuing gunbattle, while the other four bandits were apprehended. However, before the security operatives could quell the situation, the mob lynched them and set them on fire immediately.
The Sokoto state police spokesman, ASP Sanusi Abubakar confirmed the incident to newsmen.
The residents claimed that the bandits had stolen food items and kidnapped two persons during the attack.
A resident said: “The people of Tangaza have shown that they are serious. It is becoming obvious that this will soon be the trend because people are tired and no longer afraid.”
Another resident, Aliyu Madi, stated that villagers were angered by the audacity of the hoodlums.
“After the efforts made by our vigilante members and security agents to save some of those kidnapped, the bandits sent a message to the people that those two residents with them would be killed and that no matter how much we offer them, they would not accept. And they went ahead to kill the two people,” he said.
“The youths were angry and despite pleas from the DPO and the local government chairman, they insisted that if the policemen did not kill the bandits in their presence, they would burn down the police station.
“It was a very complicated situation for the DPO because the youth were adamant. They had their way and took the bandits outside of the town, killed and burnt them to ashes.”
It can be recalled that Chronicle NG reported the attack by bandits on Tangaza town, the northern district of Sokoto State.
The attack claimed the lives of two persons while four others were abducted.
It was gathered that the assailants stormed the town after evening prayers on Friday, during which a store owner and a young girl were shot dead.
Three other persons who were injured were said to be receiving treatment.
During the attack, the assailants carted away food items and beverages.
However, the bandits were stopped in their tracks when security operatives arrived the scene just in time to save one of the kidnap victims.
Residents of the invaded community stated that four children were abducted however the Sokoto State Police Command PPRO, ASP Sanusi Abubakar confirmed the incident but maintained that only one person was killed and there was no abduction.
The attack comes a few days following reports that a threat letter was sent to some communities in Sokoto from the bandits.
In the letter written in the Hausa language, the assailants mentioned five communities – Shuni, Kwanar Kimba, Rikina, and Dange, all in Dange/Shuni Local Government Area, causing panic among the residents.
