No fewer than 18 people were on Wednesday confirmed dead in fresh attacks by bandits on five communities in Faskari local government area of Katsina State.
WuzupNigeria reports that bandits had attacked Kadisau, Kabalawa, Kwakware, Unguwar Wahabi and Raudama communities on Tuesday evening.
Residents said the bandits stormed the communities when preparations were being made to observe the Moslems evening prayers.
The residents claimed bandits riding over 100 motorcycles stormed the communities, shooting and burning houses and grain stores. They were also said to have molested some women.
Residents said many of them had to scamper for safety and spend a better part of the night inside the bush.
A prominent resident from the council, Hassan Muhammed said thirty deaths were recorded in Kadisau; nine in Kabalawa; five in Kwakware; three in Unguwar Wahabi and one in Raudawa.
Muhammed who is the Personal Assistant to the National Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party( PDP), Senator Umat Tsauri added that the bandits also rustled some animals.
When contacted, the spokesman for the Katsina Police Command SP Gambo Isah put the figures of those dead at eighteen.
Isah said,
“Yesterday( Tuesday) we received a report that armed bandits numbering over 200 attacked Kadisau village of Faskari LGA.
” According to the report, the bandits went there with the intent to steal food items and other materials of the villagers. Unfortunately, some group of youths came out in number and confronted the bandits. The bandits now opened fire on these innocent souls.
”As at yesterday (Tuesday),14 were reportedly killed while 26 taken and admitted into the hospital. And this morning (Wednesday) as I spoke with the Area commander of the Funtua Area Command, he told me that four more victims died in the hospital making the number to 18.
“Assured people living in the Front line LGAs that the Nigerian Police and other security agencies are doing the needful to ensure that peace is returned in their respective areas.
“Over 5,000 villages in the fringes of the dreaded Rugu forest bordering Katsina Zamfara, Birnin Gwari forest and the republic of Niger.
“Calling good people of the state to provide the police with credible information and intelligence through the emergency lines about the movement of the hoodlums.”
Residents of Yantumaki in Danmusa local government area on Tuesday protested against insecurity in the area and in the surrounding communities.
A campaign billboard containing the pictures of the President, Major- General Muhammadu Buhari( retd) and that of Governor Aminu Masari was burnt during the protest.
Calm has since returned to the town, Yantumaki.
