Bandits Resume Attacks In Katsina, Kill Two, Abduct Others

SUSPECTED bandits have reportedly resumed attacks in parts of Katsina State, killing two people and abducted over a dozen others in latest incidents.
This followed plans by the state government to release 70 suspected and convicted bandits in a swap for 1,000 victims abducted, but released by bandits after a community- driven peace deal.
It was gathered that bandits attacked at least four communities in Faskari, Funtua and Musawa Local Councils in the last three days.
The bandits, armed with sophisticated weapons, reportedly attacked Gidan Sarki community in Musawa on Monday night, Jnanuary 19, where they killed two people and abducted 10 persons.
A source in the area said the bandits abducted five married men, along with their wives, and led them into the forest, ostensibly for ransom purposes.
“What happened at Gidan Sarki community was that gunmen, suspected to be bandits, attacked the area and killed two people, an elderly man and a youth, and abducted five men, along with their wives.
“Right now, 10 persons are held in captivity by the bandits. I called one of the victims who is my junior sister and one of the bandits picked the call. He told me my sister and her husband were with them.”
Another source in the area also said the bandits carted away several food items during the attack, adding: “They broke into about two shops, a provision shop and a shop where grains were stored.
“They also broke into homes and carted away monies and other valuables.”
He said following the attack, several people in the community temporarily relocated to bigger communites for fear the bandits might return.
Bandits also attacked Dikke village in Funtua Council on Saturday night, January 17, abducting about five people.
A resident of the area, Abubakar Mustapha, noted: “They attacked the community and abducted five people, but God in His infinite mercy helped one of them to escape.
“Presently, there are four people being held by the bandits in the forest.”
Mustapha disclosed that the bandits didn’t come to the village on motorcycles, as they used to, but parked their motorcycles some metres away in the forest and trekked to the area to commit their atrocity.
Bandits also attacked Unguwan Malam Musa community and neighbouring Nadankama, in Faskari Council on Sunday, January 18, and bducted six persons.
A resident of the area said four persons were abducted at Unguwan Malam Musa and two at Nadankama village, who were working in their farmlands until the bandits swooped on them and moved them to unknown destination.
He added that the bandits called and demanded N14million ransom for each of the victims, an amount he said the community cannot afford, saying: “The bandits then reduced the ransom to N2.5million for each of the victims,” which he doubts the community can raise.
The attacks have raised concerns from some quarters, who lamented the resumption of killings and abductions by bandits, despite a peace deal brokered between repentant bandits and communites prone to insecurity.
A state government official, who asked not to be named, confirmed the attacks.
Spokesperson of the state Police Command, Abubakar Aliyu (DSP), could not immediately confirm the incidents.
(Danjuma Michael, Katsina)