At least sixx persons was reportedly killed while several others sustained injuries following a clash that occurred between vigilantes and suspected Fulani bandits at Gada town, the headquarters of Gada Local Government Council of Sokoto State.
Gada Local Government is among the communities worst hits by terrorist activities in the Sokoto East Senatorial District in the state.
The Command’s Spokeperson, ASP Ahmed Rufa’i, confirmed the incident that happened on Thursday at Gada weekly market, saying the Police were still investigating the issue.
ASP Rufa’i said the police recovered six dead bodies corpses suspected to be of Fulanis killed by the Vigilantes left unattended on the Market day on that fateful Thursday in Gada town,the headquarters of Gada local government area of the state.
Eye witness reveals that the incident stated when a vigilantes leader of the Gidan Hashimu village made a move to arrest and interrogate a notorious cattle rustler seen loitering in the Market, the move was resisted by the Fulanis group around the market.
The suspected bandits at the height of the crisis shot and killed the Vigilantes leader their decision heightens the reprisal by members of the Vigilantes.
He further said before the security operatives arrived to the incident scene more than six people were reported killed while others who sustained various degrees of injuries as a result of gunshots have been receiving medical treatments at Gada hospital .
He further confirmed that after the killing of the vigilante leader and his deputy who immediately succeeded him, was also shot and killed at Gidan Jawo village by the suspected Fulanis.
The Vigilantes in the area being provoked by the killing of their two leaders went on reprisal Attacks on Fulani communities in the area where over 50 people were alleged to have been summarily executed by the rampaging group.
His words :“As speak to you now, I and my family were in hiding to avoid anticipated another reprisal attack by the suspected bandits.
“There tension in Gada town is palpable as suspected Fulanis organises reprisal attack the town to avenge the killings of their members and we know they means their words”.
“Today is Kiri village market day, but you cannot spot a single Fulani male or female in the market area,” it’s a market which is hitherto full of Fulanis, but the recent development forced many of them to flee from the 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 a member of the Sokoto State House of Assembly, Hon Kabiru Gada, representing the Area said the incident occurred when a suspected bandits leader was sighted at the Gada weekly market by some vigilante leaders and tried to arrest and interrogate which he later resisted and instantly shot and matchet the vigilantes leader of Gidan Hashimu village to death which prompted reprisal attack against the Fulanis from members of the vigilantes.
