Bandits terrorising the Sabon Birnin area of Sokoto State have returned to attack several villages after pocketing N67million in taxes from helpless residents.

The bandits struck a few days after taking over the ungoverned villages in Sokoto East, asking them to pay levies for protection.

READ ALSO: EXCLUSIVE: Names, Exact Figures… How Sokoto Villages Paid N67m in Taxes to Bandits in One Week

The night raid took place for several hours at Unguwan Lalle, Tsangerawa and Tamindawa communities respectively.

“They entered the villages and started shooting aimlessly on Tuesday evening,” a resident of Sabon Birnin told FIJ. “So far, 14 persons have been killed while three other persons were abducted.”

The attackers also opened fire on moving vehicles, causing the death of passengers. Injured victims of the attack have also been taken to the hospital, according to an eyewitness.

FIJ had reported how the criminal gangs in Sokoto East are governing substantial parts of Sabon Birnin after Bello Turji, a terror kingpin, fled Zamfara, a neighbouring state, after military offensives against him and his cohorts, to build a new empire in Sokoto forest and procure more ammunition.

FIJ had also reported how over 40 Sabon Birnin villages paid N67million as taxes to the marauding bandits working for Turji.