Four people were reportedly injured when armed bandits invaded Isa town, headquarters of Isa Local Government Area in Sokoto State, in the early hours of Monday.

According to sources, the assailants stormed the town around 1am, shooting sporadically and injuring four residents who are currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

Isa, one of the communities in eastern Sokoto, has been a hotspot for banditry and related criminal activities in recent years.

A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the situation would have been worse if not for the prompt response of security operatives deployed to the area.

“They entered the town from the eastern axis, behind the residence of Sarkin Gobir Isa, and began shooting indiscriminately. Four people sustained gunshot wounds and were rushed to the hospital,” he said.

The resident attributed the recent surge in attacks to a peace accord reportedly reached between some communities in Shinkafi, Zamfara State, and the bandits.

“Since the peace deal was signed, the bandits have redirected their attacks to our communities. They have stopped us from harvesting our crops,” he lamented.

“Just yesterday (Sunday), they abducted my elder brother, who went to the stream to fetch sand.

“Initially, they asked us to pay whatever we could afford, and we managed to raise 1million, but they rejected it. They are now demanding 6 million, which we cannot afford.”

However, the spokesman of the Sokoto Police Command could not be reached for a comment at the time of filing this report.

Monday’s attack comes just days after gunmen struck Kurawa village in neighbouring Sabon Birni Local Government Area, killing three people, including the acting village head, Hussaini Alhaji Yawalle.

The attackers, who invaded Kurawa around midnight last Thursday, also abducted several residents and rustled more than 40 cattle. (Daily Trust)