TheCable

Aminu Tambuwal, governor of Sokoto, has confirmed the killing of 43 persons in an attack on Illela LGA of the state.

According to a statement by Muhammad Bello, his special adviser on media, Tambuwal led members of the state’s executive and the security council, as well as other top government officials on a condolence visit to the people of Illela on Wednesday.

The bandits attacked the town and some villages around it on Monday, killing 13 persons in the first instance.

“At the time of the governor’s visit on Wednesday, the death toll had risen to 43,’’ he said

Bello said the village head of Kalmalo, one of the five villages affected in the attack, was wounded.

Other villages affected were Munwadata, Sarma, Runji and Masasa.

He added that Tambuwal told the people of Illela that the government and people of state felt their grief and extended their condolences.

“This is not a small occurrence. It is upsetting. This incident really touched us,’’ he quoted Tambuwal as saying.

Bello said the governor commended the local government authority, traditional rulers and community leaders for their lawful composition of a volunteer group to work with security operatives in the area.

He added that the governor assured the people that the state would constitute join operations of volunteers who would work under the supervision of security agencies to enhance security in the area.

The governor appealed to the people not to be daunted by the attacks.

“Instead, this should motivate you to redouble your efforts without seeking revenge in securing your communities,’’ Tambuwal was quoted to have said.