Again, Bandits strike in Katsina, kill 22

For the umpteenth time, bandits struck in Katsina state killing 22 persons in Kankara and Danmusa local government areas of the state Wednesday night.

Of the figure, 10 corpses were brought to the palace of the Emir of Katsina , Alhaji Abdulmumini Usman, who was joined Thursday by the kingmakers and relations of the victims during the funeral prayer, led by Chief Imam of Katsina central mosque, Imam Mohammad Mustapha, around 5,00pm. 

The killings, Blueprint’s checks revealed, cut across 7 communities in the affected local government areas.

Speaking on the development, Alhaji Ibrahim Hussain, who transported the corpses to Katsina, said about 7 bandits who rode motorcycles carried out the attack in the wee hours. 

“I saw the bandits who were seven in number holding guns on motorcycles. They fired, killed and carted away over 200 cows from the deceased,” he further said.

Hussain, who broke down in tears while speaking to journalists, said more than 16 of the victims were youth within the age bracket of 18 and 25 years.

Another source who spoke under anonymity said, “It’s unfortunate the bandits invaded the communities and operated successfully without any rescue from the security despite several calls to the Army who were  at Kankara Junction.”

Blueprint also gathered that about 25 people who sustained various degrees of injury during the attack were hospitalised at Kankara General Hospital. Three of them were later reported dead. 

Our findings revealed  the communities attacked to have included Mai Dabino village at Dan Musa local government area, Tsamiyar Jino village, Gidan Dade, Unguwar Nagamda, Yar Gwanda and Unguwar Rabo.

It was also gathered that 9 persons were killed at Unguwar Rabo, 2  at Gidan Dadi, 3 in Maidabino and  2 were attacked at Unguwar Nagamda.

Although no government official was on hand during the funeral, leader of the affected areas, Ibrahim Hussain, appealed to the state government to improve security situation in their communities.

Spokesman of the Katsina Police command, SP Gambo Isah, however,  said eleven people were killed in Kankara local government area  and two shot at Maidabino.

Reps task IGP

And from the House of Representatives came a charge to Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Adamu to flush out bandits and kidnappers from Sokoto state and other North-west states.

The call followed a motion Thursday by  Saidu Bargaja (PDP-Sokoto) and five others at plenary in Abuja.

The lower chamber, which noted the attacks by the hoodlums extended to adjoining states, also urged other security agencies to collaborate with the police in tackling the security challenge.

Moving the motion, Bargaja said Isa, Sabon Birni, Wurno, Rabah, Goronyo, Gada, Tambuwal, Kebbe, Tangaza, Gudu, Tureta, Bonica and Dange-shuni local government areas had been experiencing attacks by bandits for a long period.

This, he said, had led to loss of lives of many innocent people and confiscation of property, including livestock, foodstuff, other essential commodities and displacement of thousands of villagers, including women and children.

The lawmaker further said  it was disheartening that the attacks had adversely affected agricultural and other economic activities in the communities, thereby making farming and other businesses almost impossible.

“The House is informed that the attacks by those invading bandits cut across other states of Zamfara, Katsina and Kaduna, thereby creating livelihood crisis in the whole of North-West.

”The situation has led the people to live in fear and uncertainty in the Internally Displaced Persons Camps (IDPs) established in various locations across the local government areas,” he said.

He acknowledged the state government’s efforts at providing security in the affected communities, but expressed concern over the consequences of the prolonged attacks and displacement of people from their communities.

The lawmaker stated the situation had resulted in the destruction of infrastructure, closure of schools and increased rate of poverty and unemployment.

After contributions by some members, the House unanimously adopted the motion through a voice vote put by  Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila.

The members urged National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide relief materials for the communities.

They also resolved to set up an ad-hoc committee to pay a condolence visit to the government and people of Sokoto state. (NAN)

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