No fewer than 13 people have been killed in fresh attacks by suspected bandits on three communities in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State, despite efforts by security operatives to repel an attempted invasion of another community.

The attacks, whichh occurred between Thursday evening and Friday morning, claimed six lives in Mazau village, four in Turtsawa, including two women, and three farmers in Tsamaye village.

Residents said the bandits had initially attempted to invade Unguwan Lalle on Thursday evening but were repelled by troops and local vigilantes after a fierce gun battle that lasted several hours.

A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the attackers retreated after encountering stiff resistance from the combined security team.

“The military and vigilantes engaged them in a fierce gun battle that lasted for hours. We believe the bandits suffered heavy casualties, but they evacuated the bodies of their dead as they usually do,” the resident said.

According to him, the bandits, after failing to overrun Unguwan Lalle, diverted to Mazau village where they killed six residents before moving to Turtsawa where they killed four others, including two women.

He said the swift response of security operatives prevented the attackers from inflicting more casualties.

The source added that the bandits returned on Friday morning and ambushed farmers heading to their farms in Tsamaye village, killing three of them.

“They also attempted to attack us again during the burial of the victims this morning, but soldiers from Unguwan Lalle responded quickly and repelled them,” he said.

A community leader in Sabon Birni, who confirmed the attacks, said the latest killings were part of a series of renewed assaults by bandits in the area.

He disclosed that on Wednesday, the gunmen abducted three farmers at Fadaman Sabon Birni.

Efforts to obtain comments from the two members representing Sabon Birni in the Sokoto State House of Assembly, Hon. Aminu Boza and Hon. Sa’idu Ibrahim, were unsuccessful as calls to their telephone lines were not answered.

When contacted, the spokesman of the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmad Rufa’I, said he had yet to receive a briefing on the incident.

“I am yet to receive details of the attacks. I will contact the Divisional Police Officer in the area and get back with the necessary information,” he said. (Daily Trust)