23, not 42 persons died in Monday’s bandit attack – Sokoto state govt

The Sokoto state government has dismissed claims that 42 persons were killed during that bandit attack at Gidan Bawa village in Isa local government area of the state on Monday, December 6.

Armed men opened fire on a 42-seater bus traveling to Kaduna, killing several passengers. There were speculations that 42 persons perished in the unfortunate incident.

However, in a statement released this afternoon by the governor’s media aide, Muhammad Bello, the state government said facts have emerged that 23 people lost their lives during an attack.

Security chiefs in Sokoto state, comprising heads of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, the Nigerian Police, Department of State Security and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps as well as the Chairmen of Isa and Sabon Birni local government areas disclosed this after they briefed the state Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal on the incident at the Government House, Sokoto, Wednesday, December 8.

“Strategies are on to make sure that this will not happen again,” stated the state Commissioner of Police, Kamaldeen Okunola, who briefed journalists after a closed session with the Governor.

He explained that of the total number of people in the bus which the bandits shot at causing a conflagration, 23 died of fire burns while six sustained minor injuries and are receiving treatment at a hospital.

Okunola said three of the victims whose injuries were not so serious were promptly treated and discharged.

Meanwhile, the Sokoto state government has condoled the people of the area on the tragic loss. Gov. Tambuwal prayed for the repose of the souls of the deceased, and quick recovery for those hospitalized and others wounded.