Over 30 persons reportedly lost their lives when bandits struck at a weekly market in Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
Governor Aminu Tambuwal gave the figure when he played host to Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Farouk Yahaya who was on a courtesy visit Monday.
Mr Tambuwal in a statement by his spokesman Muhammad Bello said the criminals launched the attack between Sunday evening and Monday morning despite the area being among the affected local councils were telecommunication services were shutdown to frustrate the operations of bandits.
The state government had last month ordered network providers to shutdown services in fourteen councils to enhance military offensive against the herdsmen-turned-bandits who are also known to abduct school children for ransom in the North-West geo-political zone.
“Between last night, yesterday evening till this morning, we were greeted with a very dastardly attack in Goronyo local government, particularly Goronyo Township, where scores and tens have lost their lives and still counting,” the governor told his guest. “We’re not sure of the figure. But it is 30 something.
“We’re faced and bedevilled by many security challenges in our own area here, particularly banditry, kidnapping and other associated crimes,” he added.
While noting that the army chief came at a trying time for the nation, he won’t hesitate to give his support needed to tackle insecurity in his domain.
