Katsina: Bandits kill 6, kidnap 130 within 3 days

Bandits have killed six people and kidnapped over 130 others in a series of attacks across communities in Sabuwa Local Government Area of Katsina State within three days of this week.

DanKurmi,a village just a few kilometres off Damari road, was one of the villages invaded by bandits killing 4 people and kidnapped over 79 others.

A source from the community said that they spent at least four hours conducting house to house operation, at the end of which they kidnapped at least 79 people after killing four, in some houses, they kidnapped husbands, wives and their children, while in some others houses they kidnapped women and children, in addition to some valuables.

“We are not talking about valuables they carted away, including motorcycles and even foodstuff. They also shot and killed four people, including a toddler. His mother is currently hospitalised. “Dankurmi was not the only village they attacked that night, they also attacked other villages around the area; and by our statistics, the number of kidnapped people could be up to 200 from all the villages,” the source, who preferred not to have his name in print, said.

He gave the names of those killed to include one Maharazu Sani, Awusu Shafi’u and Saminu Ibrahim, in addition to the toddler, whose name was not given.

Another resident of the area confirming the attack explained that Gamji village was also attacked, where two people were killed and 31 kidnapped. He added that 27 people were also kidnapped at Tsaunin Jino.

“The attackers were also at Unguwar Goje, Unguwar Sani and Zagi-Zagi communities. They also kidnapped a number of people there. We don’t have the specific figure yet, but combine all together, they could reach up to 200 people that are currently in the hands of the bandits,” the source said.

A top government official from the area who pleaded anonymity, confirmed the incidents, saying stakeholders from the local government were in the state capital to meet with the state government on how they could get help to stop the menace.

“It is true, all those attacks happened within three days; and from our own count, four were killed in Dan Kurmi and 74 kidnapped; At Gamji village, 31 were kidnapped and two people killed. And the bandits were actually in other villages; I don’t have the number now,” he said.