The Sokoto State Police Commissioner, Kamaludeen Okunola, has confirmed twenty-three deaths following an attack on travellers in Angwan Bawa, Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
He confirmed the figure shortly after briefing Governor Aminu Tambuwal in an emergency security meeting summoned by the governor on Wednesday.
The CP described the incident as unfortunate, noting that security personnel have been mobilized to the area to fish out the perpetrators and prevent a recurrence.
Earlier, the spokesman of the Sokoto Police Command Sanusi Abubakar had narrated that a vehicle, which was conveying twenty-four passengers, was attacked by bandits, leading to the death of eighteen persons.
He, however, explained that after verifying from local authorities and police officers on the ground, it was confirmed that the vehicle was conveying thirty passengers.
The police spokesman said only nine of the occupants survived while twenty-one were burnt beyond recognition.
Villagers said the vehicle conveying the travellers was ambushed and shot at before the suspected bandits burnt the vehicle and its occupants.
The victims were said to be local migrant traders heading to the Kaduna village market in Gadan Gayan.
Sokoto State, just like other states in the North-West region has been ravaged by banditry of recent, which has led to the loss of lives and properties.
As part of measures to contain the situation, the state government shut down telecommunication services in some selected local governments, perceived to be the worst hit by the bandits.
