Nigerian soldiers flee as bandits unleash horror on Sokoto community, killing 150 civilians

Eyewitness said the bandits stormed the town in over 100 motorcycles and opened fire on residents for hours.

OYINDAMOLA OLUBAJO • OCTOBER 20, 2021

No fewer than 150 people were killed in bandits attack on Goronyo township in Sokoto State after Nigerian soldiers abandoned their equipment and fled the area, Peoples Gazette has learnt.

Last Sunday, the bandits stormed the town in Goronyo Local Government Area of the state on over 100 motorcycles and opened fire on residents in the attack that lasted for hours.

The state governor initially said over 30 people were killed, but later confirmed 43 dead.

“The number of people that died in Goronyo; I did say it was above 30. I was not categorical about the figure,” he was quoted in a statement by his media adviser, Muhammad Bello.

“We just finished a meeting with some stakeholders and I have confirmed that we lost 43 people, unfortunately to that incident. May God Almighty have mercy on their souls,” Governor Aminu Tambuwal later said.

However, sources told The Gazette that the assailants killed over 150 persons after soldiers who were on Shinaka-Sokoto Road abandoned their trucks and fled the area.

“The bandits came in on motorcycles that were more than 100. The soldiers who were on Shinaka-Sokoto Road abandoned their trucks and equipment and fled.

“This gave the bandits free passage and they spent many hours killing and looting people,” Adamu Ibrahim, a resident of the town, told The Gazette on Wednesday morning.

Mr Ibrahim said the attack lasted hours following the disappearance of security personnel, and with no help of rescue due to telecommunications services shut down in the area.

“There was no communication or security so the bandits had many hours to carry out their evil killing and they also carried people’s properties with them when they left,” he said,

“We counted more than 150 bodies because they were arranged in rows and some rows had 10 bodies while some had 15 or 25 bodies. We counted more than 150 bodies,” he added.

“Some of us who escaped the killings came to Sokoto to complain that there were more than 150 people who lost their lives but the government was giving different statements saying 30 or 40 people were killed. They later said 43 but still very far from the people killed.”

Another resident, Muhammad Makintami also told The Gazette more than 150 people were killed. 

“We met witnesses who ran to Sokoto from the affected local government and they gave a clear account of dead bodies,” Mr Makintami said, adding that “They were in their hundreds and at least 150.”


When contacted for comments on the incident, the spokesperson for the Nigerian Army, Onyema Nwachukwu denied the casualty figure, saying, “I wonder from what source this false information is emanating.”

He added, “The COAS has visited troops in their locations and deployments, where he addressed the troops and made assessments of ongoing anti-banditry operations. Please discountenance this rumour.”

The attack came days after some youths in Goronyo town took to the streets to protest against insecurity, which has forced many to flee the town.

In September, the state government shut down telecommunications services across Gada, Goronyo, Gudu, Ilela, Isa, Kebbe, Sabon Birn, among other local government areas to curtail increasing levels of insecurity across the state.

The same month, it capped the maximum amount of petroleum product motorists and tricycle operators can buy per time at N5,000 and N500 respectively. 

https://gazettengr.com/nigerian-soldiers-flee-as-bandits-unleash-horror-on-sokoto-community-killing-150-civilians/?utm_source=ReviveOldPost&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ReviveOldPost

Trash

them done see their mate them flee

Goodness Lord, 150 people killed in one day, and in one place

How many people are left with all these killings and when will it end??!

Lol, soldiers even ran for their dear lives and left defenseless citizens at the mercy of terrorists and bandits

Those wants doing endsars protests have misplaced priority, they should rather be doing endnigeria protests now!!

150 people ke? See them.They can't defend the territorial integrity of the failed country again abi? Nah for #EndSARS or peaceful protest matter them dey get liver.

Meanwhile the baggers that are running from bandits here are the same spineless uniformed bandits flexing muscles against innocent civilians.Useless army

Idamond:
them done see their mate them flee

do not blame those guys as buhari refuse to declare is people as terrorist!

God!!!!

Imagine the death toll 150 humans slaughtered and UN is doing nothing about it,Hausa don suffer..

The caliphate is crumbling..


Northern Nigeria is now officially a failed state..


Biafran agitators should just hold their peace and watch north finish them selves...

kollinzgee:
God!!!!

Imagine the death toll 150 humans slaughtered and UN is doing nothing about it,Hausa don suffer..

The northerners should take a bold step by protesting first.

150 people?

Damn!!!

Speechless

Cowards

Don't report it says Buhari

Cc bighead, they are killing your almajiri brothers in the North.hope all the almajiris won't all be wiped out before buhari leaves office in 2023

Ipob and Kanu is our only problem

Blood flowing in Arewa while the off springs off a demon call awududO will be shouting SE boiling because some faceless people attacked state institutions that have oppressed them for years.

Imagine if it's one of your family members that was killed,these are the same people the federal government paid a whopping $50000 ransome to retrieve whatever equipment that they got from the same Government, indirectly equipping them financially to get more sophisticated weapons,if dividing this country would bring an end to all these killings,then may the land,the sea, the air,the trees,and heaven rise against anyone opposing the disintegration of Nigeria,.... ENOUGH OF ALL THIS KILLINGS.....IT HAS BECOME HORRIBLY EXCESSIVE

They no wan die .

If it to go and burn innocent people's homes in izombe, you will see them active

But they can claim operation python dance in the East?

It's clear that the so-called repentant Bokoharam terrorists are the ones integrated in the army and brought to the East. The weapons that are supposed to be used to fight bandits in the North, they brought it to the East too, and gave the southern soldiers fighting in the North sticks and expired/faulty weapons.

And they ran to Lekki Toll gate.

This must be IPOB terrorists tactically reducing number of votes for Buhari's third term in hell.

And that is the reason why south east needs operation python dance, crocodile smile and golden whatever they call it.

But 150 is too much. I just hope this is fake news.

I don't know why certain news dey sweet me die.

150

Jesus Christ

Is it that international community is blind and can't hear what is going on in Nigeria because is very obvious that the North is technically overwhelmed...


Typing...