At least four people have been killed and several others injured after suspected bandits dressed in military uniforms launched a deadly overnight attack on Unguwan Lalle community in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

The attackers, said to be about 200 in number, stormed the community at about 8 p.m. on Sunday and operated until around 2 a.m. on Monday, looting homes and shops, rustling an unspecified number of livestock and opening fire on residents attempting to flee.

Residents said the assailants initially deceived villagers into believing they were soldiers because they were clad in military uniforms.

“We thought they were soldiers because they were wearing military uniforms. They surrounded the village, opened fire on anyone trying to escape, ransacked our homes, carted away our livestock and looted goods from our shops,” a resident recounted.

The deceased were identified as Bilyaminu Wakkala and Danbaki Tulunawa, while the two other victims were residents of nearby Kongurus village.

According to residents, the two victims from Kongurus had been spending their nights in Unguwan Lalle due to persistent insecurity in their own community, returning home only during the daytime.

Residents disclosed that the attack came less than an hour after troops who had responded to an earlier bandit incident in the area withdrew from the village.

A resident said soldiers had earlier arrived in two armoured vehicles following the reported killing of a farmer by suspected bandits during the day and remained in the community until about 8 p.m.

“The soldiers responded quickly and stayed in the village until about 8 p.m. before returning to their base. Just a few minutes after they left, the bandits came back wearing military uniforms,” he said.

He added that the attackers avoided the main road where a military checkpoint was located by entering the village through alternative routes while residents were observing the Isha prayer.

According to him, some of the gunmen positioned themselves at strategic locations with rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), while others moved from house to house searching for valuables.

“They entered through other routes and positioned some of their men with RPGs at strategic locations. The first victim was a motorcycle rider, followed by three others who tried to flee. They searched our houses repeatedly and even threatened to shoot my mother when she came out of her room,” the resident said.

The latest attack also saw the gunmen cart away goods from shops and an unspecified number of livestock, leaving many residents displaced and the community in fear.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmad Rufa’i, confirmed the killing of a farmer in the area on Sunday but said he had yet to receive an official briefing on the reported overnight assault on Unguwan Lalle.

“I have received a report confirming the killing of one person in the area on Sunday. However, I have not yet been briefed about the other reported attack on the community,” the police spokesman said.