Residents of Giremshi, a community within the Sokoto metropolis, were awoken in the early hours of Sunday by the sound of gunshots as the Sokoto State Police Command repelled a suspected terrorist attack on the area. The exchange of gunfire lasted for over two hours, leaving residents terrified and uncertain of the intentions of the attackers.
Mallam Haruna, a resident of the area, confirmed that the security agencies were able to fend off the attackers and eventually send them away, but not without a prolonged and intense battle. He commended the quick response of the Nigerian Police Force, without which the situation could have been much worse.
While the mission of the suspected terrorists has yet to be ascertained, residents believe they may have been on a kidnapping mission in the area. This incident comes on the heels of a series of attacks in the eastern senatorial part of the state, with security agents, including the Nigerian Army, having recorded success against the attackers.
The Sokoto State Police Command has yet to release an official statement on the incident, and attempts to reach the spokesman for the command, DSP Sanusi Abubakar, have been unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report. However, the successful repelling of this attack serves as a reminder of the continued need for strong and effective security measures to protect residents of the Sokoto metropolis and surrounding areas.