By HABIBU HARISU

The Chairman of Sabon Birni Local Government Area in Sokoto State, Alhaji Ayuba Hashimu, has refuted a Mosque attack alleging that an Imam and worshippers were killed in the area.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a media platform had reported that bandits had stormed a Mosque in Sabon Birni town, killing the Imam, some worshippers and abducted others.

In an interview with newsmen on Sunday, Hashimu denied the attack saying that no such incident occurred.

“I don’t know any mosque that was attacked, not to talk of killing of an Imam and worshippers. The story is false,” Hashimu said.

In another interview, the member representing Sabon Birni Local Government Area in the Sokoto State House of Assembly, Alhaji Aminu Boza, also debunked the reports, stating that there was no any mosque attack.

“I don’t know how they got their story, but it is not true. No mosque was attacked by bandits,” he said.

Meanwhile, a source from the security operatives indicated that Military troops on ground had an encounter with a gang of bandits that attacked Gatawa village under Sabon Birni LGA.

The source, who pleaded anonymity, said the bandits fired shots sporadically but they initially faced by local vigilance group members.

The source added that the military’s rapid response team later repelled the terrorists before they could enter the settlement.

According to the source, the incident occurred near the township entrance along Dan-Kamarawa village and Gatawa village around 1 a.m. on Friday.

The source added that four vigilance group members sustained injuries during the encounter and the wounded persons were responding to treatment.

“The action demonstrated the effective deterrence and pro-activeness of the Nigerian Army operatives who successfully averted a major attack on the village, the situation at present is stable and under control,” the source said. (NAN)