“It is like they came with a mission to attack the station and kill the district head and we are suspecting they were led by an insider who is conversant with the area because this is the first time we experienced such an attack,” he added.
Ibrahim Aliyu, the district head of Balle, Gudu Local Government Area of Sokoto State, has been killed by armed bandits.
It was gathered that the gunmen came on six motorcycles and rapidly set the divisional police headquarters in the area, patrol cars and some personal vehicles on fire. They also gunned down an unidentified policeman along Karfen Sarki area.
According to an eye witness, the 82-year-old district head who was shot in the head, was met lying in a pool of his blood, reciting Kalmat (There is none worthy of worship except
Allah. He is alone and has no partner. To Him belongs the Kingdom and for Him is all praise. He gives life and causes death. In His hand is all good and He has power over everything) before he finally died.
Another witness said the attackers invaded the area around 4pm on Tuesday and continued wreaking havoc until some minutes after 5pm.
“The whole area was thrown into commotion with people fleeing into the nearby bush for safety including my wives and children,” he said. A health worker in the area who craved anonymity said the attackers stormed the house of the district head after setting the police station on fire.
"They scaled through the fence of the house because it was locked, dragged the district head, who was at the time resting in his room, outside and shot him dead,” he revealed.
“It is like they came with a mission to attack the station and kill the district head and we are suspecting they were led by an insider who is conversant with the area because this is the first time we experienced such an attack,” he added.
He, however, refuted the claim that the district head was slaughtered by the bandits, saying they shot him in the head.
Honourable Faruk Balle, member representing the area at the State House of Assembly, who confirmed the attack, said they were all shocked because Balle used to be the most peaceful area in the state.
He called on the government to take decisive measures that would end banditry in the country.
The late district head is survived by two wives, eight children and many grand children. He has been buried in accordance with Islamic rites