Olushola Omogbehin
Armed terrorists have invaded Tsamaye community in Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State, leaving bout 21 persons dead and 37 others abducted.
The attack which started from 9p.m. on Monday and lasted till 3a.m. on Tuesday left two homes burnt, livestock stolen and the entire community deserted as people fled their homes for safety.
Residents who witnessed the attack said those killed include Ayuba Hashim, Kabiru Tanimu, and Yakubu Mu’azu, with many others still missing.
According to residents, the latest attack has led to another tragedy that many villagers who were trying to escape through a river got drowned when their overloaded boats capsized, with about 25 people, mostly women and children, swept away by the water.
Among the 25, 5 were rescued while 18 others were missing as families continued searching for them.
“When we called our relatives, the bandits answered the phones and told us they were the ones who abducted them. They said they had taken 37 people.
“Because of the frequent attacks, many people no longer sleep in the village. They spend the night in farms and bushes to avoid being attacked. This time, the terrorists searched through the farms, woke people up and took them away.”
“Most of those abducted were women and children. I personally saw three infants placed on the ground by the terrorists while they led their mothers away.
“We excused them during the previous attack because the terrorists had surrounded them and were firing at them. But this time, they were informed early enough, yet nobody came to rescue us,” a resident explained.
Another resident who has escaped to Sokoto yesterday, said their village had been completely deserted, with people running for their lives.
“We fled to Sokoto because we have never experienced terror like what happened last Wednesday night. About 40 of us escaped here, and everyone is now staying with relatives,” he said.
Speaking Under anonymity, a local vigilante said the terrorists entered the village about 8p.m. and moved from house to house asking residents to identify rich households and where their livestock were kept.
“Some people managed to escape and alerted us. We informed the security operatives stationed in our village and asked them to support us so we could confront the terrorists but they told us they did not have adequate equipment.
‘’We also contacted our traditional leader, but there was little he could do, apart from sympathising with us. When the gunfire intensified, we had no option but to hide,’’ the vigilante said.
He said the attack has made the community a ghost of itself as over 100 vehicles were seen transporting displaced villagers from yesterday evening. “From yesterday until today, nobody has eaten because of the trauma and panic caused by the attack,” he said.
The invasion also forced residents from surrounding villages such as Borai, Tsululu, Garin Tudu, Bukka Hamsin, Turkawa, Rumbukawa, Dutsin Na Umma, Zangon Mu’azu, Arawa, Kuru, Zangon Mallam, Mai Hurde, Zugun, Gidan Na Birni, Mashaya, Marina and several others, to flee.
Speaking also, the Chairman of Sabon Birni Local Government Area of the state, Ayuba Hashimu, confirmed the attack but was unable to ascertain the actual figures of casuaties.
“The incidents, indeed, happened but I was not there myself. Therefore, I have to verify the figures before I can confirm them,” he said.
Already, the residents of the area have appealed to the federal and Sokoto state governments to quickly deploy additional security personnel to allow displaced families to return homes in peace.
