Woman who narrated how bandits burnt her mother and children dies in hospital

The 30-year-old woman, who survived the bandits’ attack that led to the deaths of many passengers, including eight of her relatives, is dead.

The woman lost her life at the Usman Danfordiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, where she was receiving treatment following the injuries sustained during the attack which happened on Monday.

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Daily Trust had reported how a commercial vehicle heading to Kaduna en route to southern part of the country came under attack along Sabon Birni-Isa road in Sokoto.

The woman simply identified as Shafa’atu said the bandits opened fire on the vehicle, forcing it to somersault.

She said after it somersaulted, it exploded but the armed men stood back to watch the victims die.

According to her, there were 33 elderly persons and many children in the vehicle when it was attacked by armed men believed to be loyal to Bello Turji, a notorious bandits’ kingpin terrorising the eastern part of Sokoto.

“They kept firing at our vehicle until it somersaulted three times and burst into flames. Only me and one other passenger miraculously came out of the bus but the other passenger later died from gunshot injuries,” she revealed.

“I lost my four children, three girls who were grown up and my 10-month-old baby. I watched them, including my mother, maternal uncle, nephew and niece burn to ashes while the attackers were watching with delight.”

Daily Trust gathered that Shafa’atu has been buried in accordance with Islamic rites.