In the aftermath of Sunday’s attack on popular Goronyo market in Sokoto State, the state’s governor, Aminu Tambuwal, has called for additional troops from the military authorities.
Armed bandits had launched a shock attack on the market at peak hour, killing 30 persons in one fell swoop.
A concerned Tambuwal had, while receiving the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-General Faruk Yahaya on Monday, appraised the security situation in the state, saying the need for more troops could not be over-emphasised.
Condemning the “heinous attack”, the governor urged the army chief to send more reinforcement to the state and the North-West in general.
He noted that only a reinforcement could keep the bandits at bay.
Responding, however, Yahaya said the Nigerian Army would continue to work towards ending insurgency and other criminal activities in the country.
The bandits reportedly gunned down at least 30 people and maimed many others during the attack on the weekly market in Goronyo local council area.
Eyewitnesses recalled that the bandits encircled the market and started shooting sporadically.
Only 12 days ago, some bandits had killed nearly 20 people in a similar attack on Unguwar Lalle market in Sabon Birni local government area of the state.
Goronyo, Isa, Sabon Birni and Raba are local government areas in Sokoto State that are susceptible to virtually unhindered bandits’ invasions.
To stem the tide of attacks, the state government cut off mobile telecommunications networks and banned the sale of animals in markets in the areas.
Meanwhile, a human rights activist in the state, Basharu Guyawa, recalled that the bandits raided the market with a force of about 200 men.
“What we learnt is that over 150 to 200 of them (bandits) on motorcycles rode through the Gundumi forest to Goronyo town. They went straight into the market and started shooting sporadically.
“They were not selective in their shooting; they obviously came to kill,” Guyawa, the Coordinator of Rundunar Adalci, a version of Hausa’s rights group, demurred.
“The attack was horrendous,” he bemoaned.