The Sokoto State Police Command has confirmed the death of six persons after a bloody confrontation between the vigilantes and suspected Fulani bandits at Gada weekly market in the State on Thursday.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Ahmed Rufa’i, who confirmed the development in Gada LGA, said the Police were still investigating incident.
“I can confirm to you that, we recovered six bodies suspected to be of Fulanis killed by the vigilantes left unattended on the market day on Thursday in Gada town,” he stated.
Efforts to reach the sole administrator of Gada local government area, Hon. Altine Kyadawa, proved difficult as his phone was switched off despite several calls put to the line by our Correspondent.
The incident, according to eyewitnesses, started when a leader of the Gidan Hashimu village vigilante group made a move to arrest and interrogate a notorious cattle rustler seen loitering in the market. The move was resisted by the Fulani group around the market.
The suspected bandits at the height of the crisis shot and killed the vigilante leader, which sparked reprisal attack by members of the vigilante group’
He said before the arrival of the police team to the market, six people had been killed.