Yesterday afternoon, gunmen who were thought to be bandits stormed the Yarbulutu village market in the Sabon Birni local government area of Sokoto state, killing three police officers and three other traders.
When President Muhammadu Buhari and Minister of Defense Salihi Magashi were in Sokoto for the 2022 COAS annual conference, the attack occurred around 2:30 p.m.
Witnesses claim that gunmen on bikes opened fire on innocent traders at the weekly market, forcing them to flee and risk their lives.
Three police officers were killed and two operational vehicles were set ablaze when officers at a nearby checkpoint rushed to the scene and engaged the gunmen.
DSP Sanusi Abubakar, the Sokoto state Police Command’s public relations officer, confirmed the attack by stating that the command has received the report and is looking for the attackers to face justice.
A villager who witnessed the incident expressed concern about the ease with which gunmen terrorize the area on a daily basis.
He stated that kidnappers and bandits operating in Zamfara and a portion of Sokoto state have been holding Sabon Birni and Isa local government areas in the eastern part of Sokoto to ransom for a considerable amount of time.
According to the eyewitness, “I am certain these gunmen were from Zamfara state and now relocated to our area because the area shares a border with the state in the east.”
Remember that gunmen attacked and killed six people last week in another village in the state’s Goronyo local government area.
A comparative episode likewise occurred early last year where thought shooters killed in excess of 40 individuals.