Bandits Kill Driver, Two Others in Sokoto Attack on Returning Passengers
By Fahad Faruk Galadanchi
The Sokoto State Police Command has confirmed that suspected bandits killed a driver and two other persons during an attack on passengers at Kunawa village in Goronyo Local Government Area of the state.
The attack, which occurred on Wednesday evening along the Marnona-Isa road, reportedly targeted vehicles conveying passengers returning from Sokoto city, including newly recruited state government workers who had gone for recruitment screening.
The police spokesperson confirmed the incident during a telephone conversation on Thursday afternoon, stating that three persons had been killed.
“It was gathered that a driver and two others were killed by bandits at Kunawa village, Goronyo LGA, along Marnona Isa road,” the spokesperson said.
Confirming that the attacked vehicle was travelling from Sokoto city towards Isa, the spokesperson explained that the route passed through Gundumi, which connects Goronyo to Isa.
However, a separate report by SaharaReporters, citing a community source, indicated that at least six bodies had been sighted at the scene, with search efforts continuing to determine whether additional passengers had been killed.
The source claimed that three of the recovered victims were among newly recruited workers of the Sokoto State Government who had travelled to the state capital to submit their certificates and complete other screening requirements.
“They have seen like six corpses now. They are still looking for others. From the corpses seen so far, three were among those employed by the state government. They went to submit their certificates for screening and died on their way back home,” the source told SaharaReporters.
The source further alleged that some of the recruits had previously appealed to the state government to decentralise the screening exercise by allowing applicants to complete the process in their respective local government areas.
According to the source, the applicants were concerned about the security risks associated with travelling to Sokoto city but were nevertheless required to attend the screening in the state capital.
“They pleaded with the government to allow them to do the interview and screening in their local government areas instead of forcing them to travel all the way to the state capital. They explained that the roads were not safe, but their request was not granted,” the source said.
The community source also reported that some passengers were abducted during the attack, although the number of those taken away and their identities remained unknown.
While the police confirmed three fatalities, the report of at least six bodies and the alleged abductions had yet to be independently verified.
