In renewed onslaught since President Bola Tinubu took over office as President, bandits have in three states in the North-West and North-Central parts of the country killed about 87 persons.
They have also razed communities and rendered thousands of people homeless.
In Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto state, 37 persons were reportedly killed, while several others were injured in attacks on three communities.
The communities include, Raka, Raka Dutse, and Filin Gawa.
According to sources, the bandits attacked the communities on Saturday evening.
While confirming the incident, the immediate-past chairman of the LGA, Bashar Kalenjeni, said 18 persons were killed at Raka, 17 at Filin Gawa and two at Raka Dutse.
“We wanted to bury them in the night but the bandits came back and dispersed us. As at this morning, the deceased are still there unburied,” Kalenjeni said.
According to him, “the bandits imposed levies on their communities which was meant to take charge with immediate effect, and also dictating to residents on what to and not to do.
“But the villagers refused to succumb and because of that they attacked them, killing 37 persons while several others sustained various degrees of gunshot injuries and currently receiving treatment at General Hospital, Gwadabawa.
“There are others who are still unaccounted for. Right now, we are waiting for security operatives to lead us to the villages in order to bury the dead ones,” said.
When contacted, spokesman of the Sokoto State Police Command, ASP Ahmad Rufa’i, denied knowledge of the attacks.
*25 farmers, vigilante members killed in Zamfara
The same Saturday, terrorists launched a fresh attack on farmers at Jambako, Sakida and Saulawa villages in Zamfara State, killing 25 persons.
One Muhammadu Sani, an eyewitness, said 18 persons were killed in Jambako, while five were killed in Sakida two in Saulawa.
According to him, the terrorists first attacked Sakidda people at their farms, and some members of the vigilante group from Jambako rushed to engage them. The terrorists ambushed them and vigilantes lost18 persons.
The Zamfara State Police Spokesperson ASP Yazid Abubakar refused to comment, promising to respond later.
*Gunmen massacre 25 in fresh Benue attacks
In Benue State, at least 25 persons were killed in an early Saturday morning raid on Imande Mbakange by ‘unknown gunmen.
Also in neighbouring communities in Mbacher Council Ward of Kastina-Ala Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State, bandits attacked snd killed some people.
The attackers reportedly razed many houses and farmlands in the affected communities while inflicting injuries on many during the attack.
Sources confirmed that the gunmen invaded the communities at about 4am when the people were still in bed, shooting sporadically to wake them up from sleep.
According to the source: “The gunshots woke the people from sleep and as they made efforts to flee for their lives, anyone they caught up with was killed.
“As they killed the people, they also set their houses and nearby farmland on fire. As we speak the place is like a war zone.
“The communities have been deserted and residents of neighbouring communities are also fleeing for fear of being attacked.”
Chairman of Kastina-Ala LGA, Mr. Alfred Atera, who condemned the attack, appealed to security agencies to intensify patrols in the communities to end the carnage.
In a statement by his Media aide, Mr. Tsar Tartor, the chairman said: “In the early hours of Saturday, there was an attack on Imande Mbakange community and other neighbouring communities in Mbacher Council Ward by unknown gunmen which claimed at least 25 lives and left several others injured and houses burnt with properties worth millions.
Contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Police Catherine Anene, confirmed the attacks, but said she was yet to receive full details of the incident.
