Suspected bandits kill teacher, 2 others in Sokoto

Suspected bandits have killed a newly recruited teacher and two other persons following a deadly ambush along Gundumi-Isa road in Sokoto State.

The incident occurred on Wednesday evening when gunmen opened fire on civilian vehicles travelling closely behind a security convoy.

The victims were identified as 30-year-old Maniru Sa’adu Imam, the driver of the commercial vehicle, Abdurrahman Umar, and his five-year-old son, Abubakar Abdurrahman. Three other occupants sustained gunshot injuries during the attack, while one passenger remained unaccounted for.

Imam, a father of one, was reportedly returning to Isa Local Government Area after attending a salary verification exercise in the Sokoto metropolis. He had recently been employed by the Sokoto State Government and posted to Government Day Secondary School, Maitandu, but was yet to receive his first salary.

According to Daily Trust reports, the convoy departed Sokoto at about 4:00 p.m. under heavy security escorts. Daily Trust revealed that a resident, Malam Kabiru Isa, revealed that officers leading the convoy had earlier spotted a group of suspected bandits near Gundumi and engaged them in a gun battle, forcing the assailants to flee.

However, the gunmen later regrouped and laid an ambush for the vehicles trailing behind the main convoy.

“We wanted to wait for everyone who had travelled with us, but the security operatives insisted that we leave early, so we left them behind”, Isa explained.

The remains of the deceased were laid to rest on Thursday morning in accordance with Islamic rites.

As of the time of filing this report, the Sokoto State Police Command is yet to issue a formal statement on the incident.