Just in: Vigilante raids popular market, kills 11, injures scores

About eleven persons have been allegedly shot dead by local vigilante group known as ‘Yan Sakai’ who reportely raided Mammande village weekly market in Gwadabawa local government area of Sokoto State on Thursday afternoon.

A community source told reporters that at least 11 alleged traders were killed and many others also sustained various degrees of injuries including gun shots and machete cuts.

However, no reason was given for the attack but it could not be unconnected to the recent killings and abduction in the eastern parts of Sokoto State by bandits who were believed to be Fulanis.

Meantime, the chairman of the local government council, Aminu Aya said the Yan Sakai who confirmed the incident, said the victims came from the neighbouring Goronyo local government area but he could not ascertain whether they were residents of that area or not.

According to him, the Fulanis were from the neighbouring communities and came to the market to buy food items among other things.

The chairman added the incident occured around 3 pm on Thursday when the market was filled with business owners and buyers.

Aya who described the incident as “unfortunate” said the Yan Sakai identified and shot 15 Fulanis on the spot with Dane guns.

“11 of their victims died instantly while four sustained fractures in their hands as a result of gun shots they sustained.

“As I am speaking to you, we are taking the injured ones to Orthopaedic hospital in Wamakko while the 11 dead bodies are being deposited at the mortuary,” he said.

The chairman said that the attackers could not be arrested because they were well-armed.

It would be recalled that the state government had outlawed Yan Sakai in the state because of their alleged excessiveness.