Dozens Of Villagers Killed For Refusing To Pay Imposed Levies
At least 37 persons have been killed while scores were injured by bandits in Sokoto State, Northwest Nigeria, Naija News House has learnt.
As gathered, bandits stormed three villages in the Tangaza Local Government Area of the state and opened fire on villagers, killing about 37 persons and injuring several others in the process.
As further gathered, the terrorists unleashed terror on the villagers because they failed to pay levies imposed on their communities.
The bandits also dispersed some villagers who later gathered to bury their loved ones who were killed.
Residents of the area said that the terrorists attacked Raka, Filin-Gawa and Raka-Dutse on Saturday evening and opened fire on residents.
The immediate past chairman of Tangaza Local Government Area, Bashar Kalenjeni, confirmed that 18 persons were killed at Raka, 17 at Filin-Gawa and two at Raka-Dutse.
“We wanted to bury them in the night but the bandits came back and dispersed us. As of this morning, the deceased are still there unburied,” Kalenjeni said.
“The bandits imposed levies on their communities which were meant to take charge with immediate effect, and also dictating to residents on what to and not to do.
“But the villagers refused to succumb and because of that they attacked them, killing 37 persons while several others sustained various degrees of gunshot injuries and currently receiving treatment at General Hospital, Gwadabawa.
“There are others who are still unaccounted for,” the former chairman disclosed, adding, “Right now, we are waiting for security operatives to lead us to the villages in order to bury the dead ones.”
The spokesperson for Sokoto State Police Command, ASP Ahmad Rufa’i, could not be reached as his mobile phone was switched off as of the time of filing this report.
