No fewer than four people, including a woman with two of her children and her daughter-in-law, were reportedly killed by suspected gunmen in Kurya village, Rabbah local government area of Sokoto State.

A resident of the community who spoke with our correspondent on the telephone, Honourable Yusuf Garba Kurya, confirmed the ugly development.

He said those killed included a woman, her two children, and her daughter-in-law, all of whom were burned alive by the gunmen.

“The incident happened on Sunday night at about 8:30 p.m. when the gunmen stormed our village in large numbers, shooting sporadically.

“They killed about 12 people in the process, out of whom four were burned alive.

“They also abducted three women in the village, while unspecified numbers of animals were also rustled in the process,” he said.

He, however, confirmed that following a distress call by the residents, troops of Operation Hadarin Daji were mobilised and pursued, killing some of the bandits in the process.

Confirming the development, the spokesman of the Nigerian Police Force, Sokoto State Command, ASP Ahmed Rufa’i, said the command will issue a statement following the compilation of their report.

He said that according to the last information he got from the village, seven people were already confirmed dead, with the possibility of the figures rising.

He, however, promised to get back once the investigation into the case is complete. (Nigerian Tribune)