Suspected bandits have killed a newly recruited teacher, a driver and his five-year-old son in an attack on travellers along the Gundumi-Isa road in Sokoto State.

The victims were identified as Maniru Sa’adu Imam, 30, Abdurrahman Umar, who was driving the vehicle, and Umar’s son, Abubakar Abdurrahman.

According to a report by Leadership Newspaper, the attack occurred on Wednesday as the victims travelled towards Isa Local Government Area after visiting Sokoto metropolis.

Imam, a father of one, was among teachers recently recruited by the Sokoto State Government. He had been posted to Government Day Secondary School, Maitandu.

The attack reportedly left three other people injured, while one passenger was still missing as of the time of the report.

The deceased were buried on Thursday morning, according to a local witness.

Victims were travelling after salary verification

Imam had travelled to Sokoto metropolis to participate in a salary verification exercise ahead of the commencement of payments to newly recruited teachers.

A witness, Malam Kabiru Isa, said the teacher had not received his first salary before he was killed.

The victims were reportedly travelling behind a convoy of vehicles returning to Isa under security escort.

Isa explained that residents of Isa generally travelled to Sokoto metropolis twice a week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, because of persistent security challenges in the area.

He said the convoy departed at about 4pm on Wednesday, but some vehicles, including the one carrying the victims, returned to their usual meeting point after other vehicles had left.

According to the witness, some travellers wanted to wait for everyone who had made the journey, but security personnel insisted that the convoy leave early.

The vehicle carrying Imam and the other victims was therefore left behind.

Gunmen reportedly attacked vehicles behind convoy

Isa said the convoy encountered suspected bandits as it approached Gundumi, prompting the security personnel escorting the travellers to open fire.

The gunmen reportedly fled after the security operatives engaged them.

However, the witness said the attackers later ambushed vehicles travelling behind the main convoy and opened fire on their occupants.

The attack killed Imam, Umar and his son, while three other people sustained injuries. One passenger was still unaccounted for at the time of the report.

The account suggests that the victims were attacked after becoming separated from the larger group of travellers returning to Isa.

Security concerns persist along the route

The incident highlights the security risks facing residents travelling between Sokoto metropolis and communities in Isa Local Government Area.

According to Isa, residents limit their trips to two days a week because of the prevailing security situation.

The use of security escorts for returning vehicles also points to the precautions travellers take when moving along the route.

However, the reported ambush shows the risks faced by people travelling behind escorted convoys, particularly when vehicles become separated.

Police yet to confirm attack

Efforts to obtain an official response from the Sokoto State Police Command were unsuccessful, Leadership Newspaper reported.

The newspaper said its reporter could not reach the command’s spokesperson, DSP Ahmad Rufa’i, who did not respond to calls.

Consequently, details of the attack, the missing passenger and the reported casualties had not been independently confirmed by the police in the report.

Further information from security authorities is expected to clarify the circumstances of the ambush and the status of the missing passenger.