The Sokoto State Police Commissioner, Kamaludeen Okunola, has confirmed twenty-three deaths following an attack on travellers in Angwan Bawa, Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
He made the confirmation shortly after briefing Governor Aminu Tambuwal in an emergency security meeting on Wednesday.
The CP described the incident as unfortunate, noting that security personnel have been mobilized to the area to fish out the perpetrators and prevent a recurrence.
Earlier, the spokesman of the Sokoto Police Command Sanusi Abubakar had narrated that a vehicle, which was conveying twenty-four passengers, was attacked by bandits, leading to the death of eighteen persons.
He, however, explained that after verifying from local authorities and police officers on the ground, it was confirmed that the vehicle was conveying thirty passengers.
The police spokesman said only nine of the occupants survived while twenty-one were burnt beyond recognition.
Villagers said the vehicle conveying the travellers was ambushed and shot at before the suspected bandits burnt the vehicle and its occupants.
The victims were said to be local migrant traders heading to the Kaduna village market in Gadan Gayan.
