Bandits dressed in ‘Hijab’ attire, locally known as Abaya, have kidnapped 26 people, mostly women and children, in an attack on the Runka community of Safana Local Government Area, Katsina State Channels news report.
The attack occurred on Saturday night around 10:00 p.m., according to an anonymous source in the community.
The assailants reportedly fired gunshots indiscriminately throughout the community.
“The bandits killed nobody in the community except one person who was shot and injured after he attempted to run. As I am speaking to you, he has been hospitalized,” the source disclosed.
“They abducted at least 25 people because even among my relatives, twelve persons were kidnapped,” the source added.
The source also mentioned that there was no security presence during the attack, which lasted for hours. Security personnel arrived only after the incident, deploying an armored personnel carrier and police personnel to patrol the area.
“The bandits stationed themselves everywhere in the community. They moved from house to house, breaking and burgling the entrances and taking the occupants to the forest,” the source further stated.
In a chilling detail, the source recounted overhearing one of the bandits speaking on the phone during the attack, saying, ‘Today, we’ve come to your hometown’.
Authorities from the Katsina State Police Command, including spokesman Abubakar Sadiq, have not yet commented on the incident despite inquiries from Channels Television.
However, Abdullahi, the chairman of Safana Local Government Area, confirmed that 22 persons were abducted, though some managed to escape.
“The DPO Safana has deployed and stationed his team alongside soldiers to the area, and they have already commenced a rescue operation,” Abdullahi assured.
