7 killed, 3 abducted as bandits raid Sokoto community

At least seven people have been killed and three others abducted following an attack by armed bandits on Kyara village, a remote border community in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

The attack occurred in the early hours of Thursday, at about 4:00 a.m., in the village, which is located close to the Niger Republic border and lacks mobile phone network coverage.

Sources told counter-insurgency expert Zagozola Makama that the assailants, who were said to be in large numbers and armed with sophisticated weapons, stormed the community and began shooting sporadically, triggering panic among residents.

During the assault, seven persons were shot dead, while two others sustained gunshot injuries. Three villagers were also abducted, and an unspecified number of domestic animals were rustled by the attackers.

Following reports of the incident, joint security forces were immediately deployed to the area. On arrival, they evacuated the corpses and injured victims to a hospital for autopsy and medical treatment.

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Troops have since launched a manhunt for the attackers with the aim of rescuing the abducted victims, recovering the rustled livestock and arresting those responsible.

Security patrols described as confidence-building measures are currently ongoing in and around Kyara village to reassure residents and prevent further attacks.