By Ankeli Emmanuel (Sokoto)
No fewer than 12 persons were said to have lost their lives on Sunday as bandits and local vigilantes clash in Gandi village in Rabah local government area of Sokoto State, locals confirmed.
The bandits numbering over 50 and armed with dangerous weapons were said to have traced and killed Adamu Goje, the leader of the vigilante group in Gandi Rabah local government area of Sokoto State while on his farm along the Tsamiya axis of the local government.
Angered by this development, local vigilantes of Gandi village were said to have gone after the bandits resulting in casualties on both sides.
"I cannot say for sure whether all those killed are the Yansakai or the bandits at the moment. However, all I can say is that we have counted about 12 dead bodies which I am very sure comprises of both the bandits and our local vigilante". a native of Gandi revealed.
According to information made available to our Correspondent, the bandits must have carried out the dastard attack in sheer revenge over the recent killing of two of their members who came from Zamfara State to the area.
Giving details of the dastard attack during a telephone call, one of the locals who pleaded anonymity said, the bandits have their informants everywhere which was why they were able to monitor Adamu Goje's movement.
"They traced him to his farm. A Fadama land around Tsamiya axis. We learned the bandits were over 50 with each of them carrying weapons.
"The late brave Adamu Goje is the leader of our local vigilante also known as Yansakai. Yansakai is a local security outfit set up by areas suffering from banditry and terrorism threats to help repel possible attacks.
"Yansakai have helped in no small measure towards ensuring that they curtail or repel attacks on innocent locals using Dane guns and amulets".
Though, the State Police Command spokesperson, ASP Sanusi Abubakar couldn't confirm the incident at the time of filing this report, saying he was yet to get official information on the incident.
The Police spokesperson, however, added that he will communicate back as soon as he gets an official briefing about the incident. NNL.
