At least five people were killed and three others wounded after bandits attacked Girkau community in Kebbe Local Government Area of Sokoto State on Thursday, July 24. The attack occurred around 2:15 pm when a large group of armed men on motorcycles entered the community and began firing indiscriminately, according to a security operative who confirmed the incident.
Attack Details and Resident Account
A resident of the community, Usman Girkau, said the violence erupted as residents were preparing for afternoon prayers. "We were preparing for Zuhr prayer when they attacked us. They started shooting sporadically," he said. He added that people were killed across Girkau, Jibga and Dukura communities, and that one person drowned while trying to flee the attackers.
Cattle were also rustled during the raid, according to the resident. The attack is the latest in a series of raids on the community, with a similar assault reported roughly a month earlier.
Victims Named After Sokoto Bandit Attack
A security operative, speaking anonymously because he was not authorised to comment publicly, named four of the five deceased as Dogo Dan Barkeji, 50; Baban Gida Abdullahi, 28; Abubakar Dan Yaki, 50; and Abubakar Aliyu, 35. The fifth victim was an unidentified man from Dukura who had travelled to Girkau on an errand.
The three people who sustained gunshot wounds were identified as Jamilu Abubakar, Dahiru Yahaya and Adamu Mohammed. All three were taken to General Hospital, Tambuwal for treatment.
Police Yet to Be Briefed
DSP Ahmad Rufa'i, spokesman for the Sokoto State Police Command, said he had not yet received a briefing on the incident when contacted. Usman Girkau said Thursday's assault was not an isolated event, recalling that suspected bandits had attacked the same community roughly a month earlier, leaving two people with gunshot wounds and resulting in the theft of livestock.
