An 82-year-old district head of Balle, Gudu Local Government Area of Sokoto State, Ibrahim Aliyu has been killed by armed bandits.

The district head was reportedly killed after gunmen came on six motorcycles and rapidly set the divisional police headquarters in the area, patrol cars and some personal vehicles on fire.

According to Daily Trust, an unidentified policeman was also gunned down along Karfen Sarki area.

An eyewitness said the attackers invaded the area around 4pm on Tuesday and continued wreaking havoc until some minutes after 5pm.

“The whole area was thrown into commotion with people fleeing into the nearby bush for safety including my wives and children, the attackers stormed the house of the district head after setting the police station on fire.

“They scaled through the fence of the house because it was locked, dragged the district head, who was at the time resting in his room, outside and shot him dead.

“It is like they came with a mission to attack the station and kill the district head and we are suspecting they were led by an insider who is conversant with the area because this is the first time we experienced such an attack,” he said.

Honourable Faruk Balle, member representing the area at the State House of Assembly, who confirming the attack, said they were all shocked because Balle used to be the most peaceful area in the state.

He called on the government to take decisive measures that would end banditry in the country.

The late district head is survived by two wives, eight children and many grand children. He has been buried in accordance with Islamic rites.