The Sokoto State Police Command has confirmed that armed bandits invaded Gidan Asarki, a community near Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, shot a resident in the leg and rustled 28 cattle.

The attack occurred around 9 pm on Sunday in the community located behind the university’s Jummat Mosque, throwing residents into panic.

The police spokesperson, Ahmed Rufai, confirmed the incident to our correspondent on Monday in a telephone conversation, saying the attackers shot one person during the raid and escaped with the cattle.

“They invaded Gidan Asarki village and shot one person in the leg and rustled 28 cattle,” Rufai said.

Residents said the assailants threatened members of the community and demanded that students living in the area be brought out.

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“They threatened us to bring out the students living in this community, but thank God it was during the holiday,” a resident said.

The incident occurred during the university holiday, when many students were reportedly away from the area.

A resident, Hussaini, who spoke to our correspondent on Monday morning, said the victim survived the shooting and was taken to a hospital for treatment.

“When they were shooting, an old man was shot in the leg, but he is alive, and we have taken him to the hospital,” he said.

Another resident, Jameel Muhammad, also confirmed the attack, saying the gunmen took away more than 20 cattle.

“Wallahi, they have gone with more than 20 cows, and they shot the owner in the leg,” Muhammad said.

The police, however, put the number of stolen cattle at 28.

There were no confirmed reports of deaths or abductions as of the time of filing this report.

The incident has raised concerns over the security of communities surrounding UDUS, particularly rural settlements vulnerable to attacks and livestock rustling.

Armed banditry and cattle rustling remain persistent security challenges in parts of northwestern Nigeria. (PUNCH)