Suspected terrorists have attacked Gorau community in Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State, killing four residents, abducting four others and injuring several people.
The attack, which occurred at about 9 pm on Wednesday, came barely six days after a boat accident in the community reportedly claimed 65 lives, leaving several families in mourning.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the Sokoto State Command, DSP Ahmad Rufai, confirmed the incident, saying the attackers invaded the community and opened fire on residents.
The village head of Gorau, Alhaji Aliyu Magaji Na-Batsami, said the attackers shot 11 residents during the incident.
“Eleven people were shot by the terrorists. Seven of them survived and were rushed to the hospital for treatment, while four others died instantly,” he said.
Na-Batsami alleged that the attackers specifically targeted families who lost loved ones in the recent boat tragedy, apparently in search of the N1 million relief money reportedly donated by the Sokoto State Government to each bereaved family.
He said, “They went from house to house searching for the money. Their main target appeared to be families of those who died in the boat accident.”
The village head added that four residents were abducted during the attack, while several others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
The member representing Gada/Goronyo Federal Constituency, Bashir Usman Gorau, also confirmed the incident and expressed condolences to the affected families.
The fresh attack has further deepened the grief in Gorau, where residents are still mourning the victims of the boat tragedy, while security concerns continue to mount across communities in Goronyo Local Government Area.