150 killed in renewed Jos mayhem

From Babatunde Bishop, Sokoto

Armed bandits on Saturday shot dead a former Commissioner for Health in Sokoto state, Alhaji Zaki Amale along with the police orderly to the State Grand Khadi.

The two were shot dead by suspected armed bandits along Gundumi-Isa Road in Sokoto state as the Grand Khadi’s convoy was returning from a journey.

Amale was a commissioner under the administration of former governor, Attahiru Bafarawa.

The deceased, according to the police were travelling with the Grand Khadi of Sokoto State, Alhaji Abdulkadir Saidu Tambuwal and were believed to have been coming from Kauran Namoda in Zamfara state where they had gone for a wedding ceremony before they met their death.

The tragedy occurred shortly after the convoy of the former governor, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa passed through the spot on its way to Sokoto from Bafarawa town where the former governor went to see his kinsmen.

While the state Grand Khadi escaped the attack, his Sergeant police orderly was not lucky as he was shot dead with the commissioner.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mohammed Umar Dakingari in a press statement signed and made available to our correspondent in Sokoto confirmed the incident, adding that “no arrest has been made.”

The statement stated that the attack occurred in the afternoon, with four occupants on board the vehicle that was attacked by the bandits while a service pistol belonging to the police orderly was stolen in the attack.

“While the Grand Khadi with the driver escaped unhurt, effort is being intensified with a view to arresting the culprits as the police  have launched investigation into the matter,” it stated.