•Bandits and Governor Umaru Radda of Katsina State
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.
Speaking with our correspondent, some residents of the affected communities said that on Sunday, about 11pm, terrorists attacked DanKurmi, a village just a few kilometres off Damari road, where they were said to have spent at least four hours, conducting house to house operation, at the end of which they kidnapped at least 79 people after killing four.
A source from the community said that in some houses, they kidnapped husbands, wives and their children, while in some other houses they kidnapped women and children, in addition to some valuables, reports Weekend Trust.
“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.
Corroborating the above narrative, another resident of the area 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.
Our correspondent made several attempts in a bid to speak with some elected officials of the local government, including the chairman, member of the state House of Assembly representing Sabuwa and the member representing Kankara/Faskari/Sabuwa federal constituency, but to no avail.
However, 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.
‘Why they are attacking us frequently’
He explained that at the dawn of the current rainy season, the bandits offered a peace deal to Sabuwa Local Government, during which they assured that farmers could cultivate their farms without any fear of attacks.
“As you know, one has to weigh the advantages and implications of such peace deals; and that is exactly what is being considered, thus delaying the peace deal or rejecting it entirely.
“All these recent attacks were an attempt to put more pressure on the community leaders to accept their peace deal.
“Unfortunately, there was a time they (bandits) attacked a military formation at Dankolo, where they killed three soldiers and set three MRFs on fire.
“As a result of that attack, the army relocated their men to Madattai. They also relocated their position from Tashar Bawa to Dungun Mu’azu. These two major adjustments the army did also gave the terrorists free access to those communities,” he explained.
He called on both the state government and the military command in the state to help return the army to their previous locations so that the attacks could be checked.
