The Katsina State Police Command says it has arrested a middle-aged man in connection with the Friday bandits attacks on two Katsina villages where thirty people were officially confirmed killed and several houses and animals burnt.
The spokesman for the command, SP Gambo Isah, on Saturday evening also said nine motorcycles suspected to belong to the bandits were recovered through the Nigerian army troops mobilized to the villages.
SP Isah said,
“ Yes, we arrested a middle-aged man this (Saturday) morning. The man came to Katsina with stolen items from the areas where the bandits operated on Friday looking for buyers for the items. He was subsequently arrested and he is currently being interrogated.
“Also, we have recovered nine motorcycles strongly suspected to belong to the bandits. The motorcycles were recovered through the army and we are still investigating. I cannot tell you more than that.’’
The Katsina police commissioner, Sanusi Buba, had after visiting the two villages on Saturday, said security operatives were already after the bandits.
Suspected bandits had on Friday evening killed no fewer than thirty people in Tsauwa and Dankar villages in Batsari local government area of Katsina state.
According to the police commissioner, twenty-one people were killed at Tsauwa while nine were killed at Dankar.
The bandits, however, wreaked serious havoc on Tsauwa where they burnt down houses and animals. They also burnt down bans containing foodstuffs.
At Tsauwa, corpses of burn victims who were mainly old men, women and children still littered various locations in the village on Saturday evening.
The District head of Batsari who is also Sarki Ruma, Alhaji Tukur Muaazu described the incident as horrible.
He said,
“I have never seen this type of destruction in my life. The bandits arrived here (Tsauwa) about 7 p.m on Friday when residents were about observing Magrib. Some were also preparing to sleep. The bandits laid siege to the village, killing and destroying anything they sighted.
” I appeal to Governor Aminu Masari to come to the aid of the victims. I will also plead that security in the community should be strengthened. “
The destruction at Dankar was minimal as the bandits reportedly killed nine people there and did not touch houses.
Security personnel including police, the army and members of local vigilante had taken up positions in the two villages by Saturday evening.
