A gun battle has resulted in the deaths of three bandits and two vigilantes after an attack on Bargaja village in Isa Local Government Area during the early hours of Sunday.
According to a source, the bandits stormed the village at about 1:30 a.m., entering through an outer route. Some of the attackers reportedly hid in trees close to the village cemetery while others quietly moved into a house on the outskirts, where they confronted vigilantes stationed there for security.
The source said one vigilante was killed at the beginning of the confrontation before other vigilantes engaged the attackers, resulting in the deaths of three of the bandits.
He stated that “The attackers later pursued another vigilante hiding in a house until they killed him. The two vigilantes that died were identified as Umar Ibrahim and Abubakar Abdullahi.”
The bandits reportedly fled the area using a donkey to carry away their dead while abandoning their motorcycles some distance from the village to avoid being traced.
The incident created panic within the community, prompting some residents to consider fleeing the area. However, community leaders, including the village head and the local security commander, stepped in to calm residents and prevent further panic.
The spokesman of the Sokoto State Police Command, Ahmad Rufai, confirmed that the police are aware of the attack and the casualties recorded.