President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday expressed sadness over the bandits attack on a 42-seater passenger bus in Sokoto.
The gunmen ambushed the commuters in the Angwan Bawa area of Sabon Birni council, shot at the bus with 29 persons on board before setting it on fire.
Twenty-three of them were reportedly burnt beyond recognition, while six sustained injuries and were hospitalised. Of the six, three with minor injuries have been discharged.
The attack happened on Tuesday.
The victims, mostly local traders, were said to be going to a market in Kaduna State when they were attacked.
“I am very distressed at the manner of death visited on these hapless citizens who were undertaking a legitimate journey to another part of the country…I extend deep condolences to the families of the victims as I assure that the security agencies will continue to give their all to bring to an end the operations of these despicable people,” the President said in a statement by his spokesman, Femi Adesina, yesterday.
Police Commissioner, Kamaludeen Okunola, confirmed the attack and the casualty figures after briefing Governor Aminu Tambuwal in an emergency security meeting.
The CP described the incident as unfortunate, noting that security personnel had been mobilised to the area to fish out the perpetrators and prevent a recurrence.
Villagers said the vehicle conveying the travellers was ambushed and shot at before the bandits burnt it and its occupants.
As part of measures to contain banditry, the state government shut down telecommunication services in some selected local governments worst hit by the bandits.
Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, in a statement by his media aide, Nath Ikyur, regretted how the country had been turned to a killing field, adding that innocent Nigerians going about their legitimate business were killed by gunmen.
Ortom urged everyone to team up with government and security agents to expose the killers.
