Bandits Kill 6 Police Officers in Attack on Intending Pilgrims in Sokoto

Editor/

No fewer than six mobile policemen were reportedly shot dead by bandits who attacked intending pilgrims from Issa Local Government Area of Sokoto State on their way to the state capital for their journey to the Holy Land in Saudi Arabia.

The attack on the pilgrims was confirmed by the State Government in a statement, but it was mum on the policemen.

In the statement issued by the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to Governor Aminu Tambuwal, Muhammad Bello, on Monday, the state Commissioner for Information, Isah Bajini Galadanchi, said the intending pilgrims, their relatives and security men who were accompanying them to the hajj camp were held up by the bandits.

“The contingent has already been received by government officials and is being processed for their onward journey to the Holy Land.”

But Daily Trust said it learnt that the six policemen killed were part of the security team leading the pilgrims to the airport.

The newspaper said the mobile policemen were in the lead in the convoy of vehicles.

Reports had it that instead of leaving for the Hajj yesterday as scheduled, the trip was moved to today.