Senate Observes A Minute Silence For 43 People Killed At Goronyo Market By Bandits

A minute silence was observed on Wednesday at the upper legislative chamber over the recent killing of scores by bandits at the Goronyo Market in Sokoto State.

Ezenwoko’s Blog reports that the lawmakers during today’s plenary commiserated with the families of those killed in the ugly event that occurred on Sunday, October 17, 2021.

It could be recalled that some daring armed bandits had stormed the market on the fateful day shooting sporadically, killing at least 43 persons while others escaped with degrees of wounds.

The senators were reminded of the event today by Senator Ibrahim Gobir through a point of order during the start of the plenary. Coming under Order 43 – Personal Explanation – of the Senate Rules, Gobir said, “on Sunday, 17th October 2021, Goronyo market was attacked, where scores were killed.

“The terrorists came to the market and started shooting every person they saw in the market.”

According to the senator, in at least seven villages within some local government areas of the state, residents are compelled by bandits to pay levies between ₦1 million and ₦20 million.

Senator Gobir gave the affected villages to include: Kwarangamba, Garki, Danadua, Katuma, Kurawa and Dama.

The lawmaker lamented that failure to meet the demand imposed by the bandits in the affected areas had severally led to the killing of the villagers.

Gobir expressed disappointment with the response of security agencies inspite of consistent pleas by stakeholders and residents to rescue the affected communities.

He berated the police and military, stating that their lackadaisical action to come to the rescue of the villagers has emboldened the terrorists to install their own representatives as villages heads in some areas of Sabon-Girin Local Government.

Gobir said: “The terrorists are now installing their village heads in some areas of Sabin-Girin local government.

“In Gangara, they replaced the village head with Dan Bakkolo, the next in command to known terrorists called Taraji.

“In Makwaruwa, they installed Dan Karami (a terrorist) as Maigari”, Senator Gobir said.