Sokoto Records Most Deaths As 149 Die In Nigeria In One Week Due To Insecurity

Violent attacks across Nigeria that took place between Monday, May 25, 2020, and Monday, June 1, 2020, have led to the death of 149 Nigerians, according to data from the Nigeria Security Tracker.

The tracker is an initiative of the Council on Foreign Relations that maps violent incidents in the country driven by political and socio-economic grievances.

The fatalities are from a total of 17 incidents, with one noted to have taken place in Cameroon but leading to the death of five Boko Haram insurgents and two soldiers.

Sokoto State recorded the highest number of deaths (74), followed by Zamfara (30), Katsina (17), Delta (six), Plateau (five), Anambra (four) and Nasarawa (2). Abia, Enugu, Edo and Lagos had one case of fatality each.

Of all the deceased people, 96 were unarmed civilians, 32 were armed persons, six were victims of kidnapping, five were members of Boko Haram, four were sectarian actors, three were kidnappers, two were Cameroon soldiers, and one was a political actor.

Bandits had, on Wednesday, attacked villages in Sabon Birni Local Government Area in Sokoto State, namely Garki, Dan Aduwa, Kuzari, and Katuma, and killed 74 residents. A witness said they arrived on motorcycles and started shooting randomly.

The attack came after a visit by the state Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, and security chiefs to the area.

“This development is most discomforting considering the fact that myself and the entire security architecture of the state had on Tuesday visited the area and had fruitful discussions with the traditional leaders and other stakeholders on how to nip this unfortunate incident in the bud,” the governor said in a statement.

“Nonetheless, under my watch, no stone will be left unturned in ensuring that the perpetrators of this dastardly act are brought to book.”

On Thursday, bandits also attacked Faskari and Sabuwa Local Government Areas in Katsina State and killed 15 people. The communities affected were Unguwar Gizo, Maigora, Mai Ruwa, Sabon Layin Galadima, and Machika.

The attacks started from midnight and were sustained up until early morning on Friday, according to witnesses.

“We keep telling people especially those at the front-line to avoid confrontation with these bandits because they are armed with AK 47 guns and you can’t fight then with dane-guns and machetes,” the Spokesman for the Police Command in Katsina State, SP Gambo Isah, said.

“They came to rustle animals and the villagers confronted them which made the bandits to attack,” the officer added.