Seven residents of Ngalda, Yobe State, who were killed by armed robbers at the Ngalda Market on Monday, have been buried amidst sorrow and outrage.
The funeral, held on Tuesday, drew a large crowd of mourners from the community and beyond, SaharaReporters can report.
The attack, which occurred at around 9 p.m. as traders were closing for the day, saw the robbers cart away N16.5 million after targeting three shops in the market.
Villagers, however, fought back, killing three of the robbers while three others fled with injuries.
The Yobe State Police Command confirmed the incident in a statement released on Tuesday.
The command’s spokesman, Dungus Abdulkarim, stated: “January 20, 2025, at approximately 2100hrs, a group of six armed robbers, led by Datti Alhaji Daji of Ngalda town attacked three shops at Ngalda market.
“The incident resulted in seven fatalities and eleven injuries. The robbers made off with approximately sixteen million five hundred thousand.
“In response, the people of Ngalda Town mobilised and killed three of the robbers, while three others escaped with injuries.”
The statement said the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) led a team of patrol officers to Alhaji Dadji’s house, where they recovered a locally made pistol with three cartridges.
“He was arrested and is currently in police custody, facing interrogation as the investigation unfolds,” it added.
Commissioner of Police Ahmed Garba, who extended his condolences to the bereaved families, has called for calm and assured the public of a thorough investigation.
He emphasised, “My officers have been tasked to apprehend the remaining suspects. We urge the public to provide credible information to aid our efforts.”
The tragic incident has left the community in mourning, even as the arrest of the gang leader, Alhaji-Dadji, and the killing of three suspects bring some relief.
