A fight between suspected gunmen and vigilantes in Sokoto State’s Gada Local Government Area claimed the lives of six people.
According to a source in the neighborhood who spoke on the condition of anonymity, the vigilantes avenged the murder of their leader, Alhaji Dahiru, by a suspected shooter.
According to eyewitnesses, the conflict started when a leader of the Gidan Hashimu village vigilantes attempted to capture and question a prominent cattle rustler who was observed lurking in the market.
During the height of the crisis, the alleged gunmen were reported to have shot and murdered the vigilantes’ commander, prompting retaliation from other vigilantes.
According to one eyewitness, more than six persons were slain before the police arrived at the market, some with bullet wounds from gunfire while fleeing for safety.
An eyewitness says,”The vigilantes in the region, outraged by the loss of their two leaders, embarked on retaliatory assaults against Fulani villages in the vicinity where the rampaging gang allegedly summarily slaughtered over 50 individuals.
“As speak to you now, I and my family are in hiding to avoid another reprisal attack by the suspected gunmen.
“There is tension in Gada town, as suspected Fulanis vow to attack the town to avenge the killings of their members.
“Today is Kiri village market day, but you cannot spot a single Fulani male or female in the market area,
“The attack launched by the Vigilantes in many Fulani communities in Gada Local Government Area on Thursday saw the killing of many Fulanis in the area.”
Also confirming the incident, a member of the state House of Assembly representing the area, Kabiru Gada said, “The incident occurred when a suspected bandits leader was said to have been seen in the Gada market making purchases and some vigilante leaders identified him and demanded his arrest and interrogation.
“He later resisted and instantly shot and matchet the Vigilantes leader of Gidan Hashimu village to death which prompted reprisal against the Fulanis from members of the vigilantes.
“The report at my disposal shows that many people were killed, some with injuries sustained from gunshots fired by both sides. Some Fulanis and Vigilantes lost their lives.”
Another eyewitness stated the leader pursued and apprehended the suspect, who was with his kinsmen on their way to the local livestock market on Thursday, April 18.
The culprit allegedly resisted arrest, bringing a weapon and stabbing the vigilante leader, resulting in his death.
“When the news about his death reached his colleagues, they mobilised and stormed the market, killing any Fulani man on sight. We counted about eight corpses of Fulanis which were later deposited at the mortuary.
“It was the quick intervention of security operatives that saved the situation because the Yan Sakai, who was about 100, wanted to set the police station where some of the Fulanis ran into ablaze.
“Soldiers surrounded the police station and dispersed them. However, the vigilantes razed down all the Fulanis settlements in the area.”
Confirming the incident, the spokesman for the Sokoto Police Command, ASP Ahmed Rufa’i, said six persons lost their lives during the incident.
“We are still investigating to unravel the remote cause of the problems and bring those behind it to book,” he said.