Suspected bandits have killed a driver and two other persons in an attack on a vehicle conveying passengers along the Marnona-Isa Road in Sokoto State.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the attack occurred at Kunawa village in Goronyo Local Government Area on Wednesday evening, according to the Sokoto State Police Command.
Confirming the incident on Thursday, the spokesperson for the command, DSP Ahmed Rufai, told our correspondent that the attack claimed three lives.
Rufai said, “A driver and two others were killed by bandits at Kunawa village, Goronyo Local Government Area, along the Marnona-Isa Road.”
The victims were reportedly travelling from Sokoto metropolis towards Isa Local Government Area when they were intercepted by the assailants, who opened fire on the vehicle.
Unconfirmed reports indicated that some of the passengers might have been among the 3,000 people recruited by the Sokoto State Government who had been invited for further screening and collection of their documents.
However, it was not immediately clear whether any of the deceased were among the recruits.
The police spokesperson did not provide further details about the circumstances of the attack or the identities of the victims at the time of filing this report.
The incident has renewed concerns over the safety of motorists and passengers travelling on roads linking communities in Sokoto State, particularly amid persistent security challenges in parts of the state.
Residents have continued to express fears over the activities of armed bandits, who have been accused of attacking travellers and communities across parts of the state.
The latest attack has also raised questions about the safety of people travelling for official engagements, including recruitment-related exercises.
Further details about the incident and possible security measures to prevent similar attacks were being awaited from the police.
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