A dozen vigilantes have been burned to death in an attack that saw waves of terrorists descend on a town in Kebbi state northwest Nigeria.

The mass assault by hundreds of motorcycle-riding terrorists on Bena village, Danko-Wasagu LGA, left 28 police and townspeople dead on April 30. 

The attack is the latest in a series in recent days, others had been repulsed by the police and members of a vigilante group. Later that day the armed men attacked Wasagu town, 42 km away, where they abducted three residents.

The attacks were led by a terrorist known as “Ilu”, from a camp in the area, local sources say. At least 11 terrorists were killed in the attack.

The armed gang ambushed a Mopol vehicle, setting it on fire, killing 12 members of the vigilante group inside. They assaulted the police checkpoint at the town, eight police officers were killed.

After the attack, at least another ten civilians were found dead in the streets as people emerged from hiding.

Garba Kegudu, a resident of Bena told HumAngle “the armed gang was led by Ilu, the terrorist leader who launched the attack targeting mainly the mobile police officers working in Bena village.”

Shooting

Muazu Bala, a member of the vigilantes group said: “About 11 members of the terrorists gang who came to destroy the outpost were killed during the gun duel between the armed group and the security operatives.”

Muazu said “We saw over 200 motorcycles carrying no fewer than 500 bandits shooting in the air while they were approaching the police outpost.” Muazu added.

The Police unit’s commander, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, was killed during the attack.

Abubakar Fami, aged 47, is the eyewitness of the event and said “the armed gang who attacked the Mopol outpost in Bena are around 500 because they rode about 200 motorcycles, some carrying three terrorists with guns. They went straight to the station and ambushed the area.”

Two of the mobile officers survived the attack, but four inspectors, one of them named by local sources as Hassan Yusuf, were killed by the armed group.

Abubakar further told HumAngle “all the corpses of the killed officers were taken in the afternoon to Birnin-Kebbi, the capital city of Kebbi State. This is after discovering 10 additional dead bodies of the civilians.”

When contacted for comment, the Police Public Relations Officer of Kebbi State Police Command confirmed the incident and added that, “we received the news of the sad development in Bena. We are putting all efforts to address the insecurity affecting our border spaces with the Zamfara State.”