Katsina State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Sadiq, has verified that no fewer than five individuals have been reportedly slain by bandits in Saturday’s attack.
In addition to verifying the Tuesday attack on Gobirawa Community in Katsina State’s Dutsinma Local Government Area, DSP Abubakar claimed that the criminals also set two cars on fire.
Two cars were set on fire, and five people were shot dead. The goal of the continuing investigation is to apprehend the offenders and prevent future incidents,” he told PUNCH.
In the meantime, Sani Abdullahi Kuki, a community eyewitness, verified over the phone with reporters on Monday that at least 19 people were slain by bandits at the hamlet on Saturday night.
Residents of the community demanded more security in the area and called on the appropriate authorities to help them because they believed that war was gradually approaching the Local Government Headquarters. The PUNCH learned that the thugs, who were armed with dangerous weapons and were presumably from the nearby Danmusa forest, broke into the community at around 9:00 p.m. and began shooting intermittently, killing several people there and leaving several others unaccounted for.
He clarified that during the raid, an unknown number of people—mostly women, children, and the elderly—were kidnapped, that entire resident-owned stores were destroyed, and that more than 20 homes were set on fire.This is completely unmanageable. I couldn’t even stay till the end to see the complete burial process of one of the deceased because I couldn’t contain my fury. Employees were excavating graves for the five additional people who perished in the fire when I left the cemetery.
“Some of the residents who sought refuge inside grain silos were set ablaze by the hoodlums. Some were burnt beyond recognition and were recovered on Sunday morning for burial.
“Some of the victims were sent to Dutsinma General Hospital; others were referred to Katsina Hospital after the incident.
“The bandits killed 19 persons on the spot. Several others were still unaccounted for. As of now, I don’t think there are at least 20 women staying in the community. Many people were evacuated to safer places in 20 vehicles.
“All the shops in the community were burnt down. Over 20 houses set ablaze. The hoodlums, reasonably coming from the neighbouring Danmusa forest, also abducted an unspecified number of persons, mostly women, children and the elderly.
“Upon sighting the Armoured Protective Carrier Vehicle approaching the community, the hoodlums ran away.
“We are calling on relevant authorities to assist us, please as war is coming closer to the local government headquarters. We also need more security presence,” he said.
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