By ONUMINYA INNOCENT

No fewer than 22 persons lost their lives on Thursday to banditry in Gangara village of Sabin Birni Local Government of Sokoto State.

It was gathered that hundreds of the bandits on motorcycles attacked the community, shooting sporadically.

The state Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Muhammad Abubakar Sadiq, said upon receipt of information of the attack, joint Operation Puff Adder and military patrol teams were drafted to the scene, adding that the efforts made by the bandits to ambush the response team were unsuccessful due to strategic response of the team.

Sadiq added that after a fierce gun duel, the bandits retreated and escaped into the forest with gunshot injuries while one bandit was shot dead.

He further explained that it was unfortunate that 22 bodies were discovered to have been victims of the sporadic shooting embarked upon by the bandits on arrival.

The police image maker stated that the Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Sani Ka’oje had since directed investigation into the attack led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Investigation Department.

The police commissioner commiserated with the families of the deceased, the state government, and vowed to bring the perpetrators of the dastardly act to book, while soliciting stronger community partnership in policing the state. (THISDAY)