A total of twenty one people were reportedly killed by bandits at the Ungwan Mai Lalle market in Sabon Birni local government area of the eastern axis of Sokoto State.
Sokoto Police spokesman, ASP Sanusi Abubukar could not be reached on phone to confirm the incident.
However a former council chairman, Abdullahi Tsamaye, confirmed the incident to news men.
The bandits were said to have stormed and shot sporadically, leaving more than thirty people injured after killing 21 in the area.
Those who sustained various degree of injuries are receiving treatment at the General Hospital Sabon Birni.
The bandits also set a number of vehicles on fire and destroyed several properties.
In a related development, the Police Command in Sokoto state has confirmed an attack that led to the killing of nine Fulani herders allegedly carried out by the outlawed volunteer vigilante group known as Yan Sakai.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Abubakar Sanusi told Radio Nigeria that the Command is on the trail of some of the identified members of the Yan Sakai that allegedly came from the neighbouring Goronyo Local government to carry out the heinous crime at Manmade village of Gwadabawa local government in the Eastern Senatorial District of Sokoto state.
He added that most of the victims are Fulanis who came to the market to buy food items and other consumables.
NASIR MALALI