Bandits Invade Katsina Town, Kill Nine

Nine persons have been killed in a bandit attack on Danmusa town, the headquarters of Danmusa Local Government Area of Katsina State.

A resident of the town, who spoke on condition of anonymity with Daily Trust revealed that the gunmen attacked the town around 8 pm on Sunday.

According to the resident, the gunmen operated for hours, killing nine people, including a policeman.

He said the bandits also kidnapped yet to be to-be-ascertained number of people and wounded several others.

He added that the attackers conducted house-to-house raids, where they carted away valuables.

The resident said, “As I speak to you, there are security agents shooting guns.”

Another source in the town said two of the deceased victims were his neighbours, adding that the policeman was killed during the house-to-house raid after they saw his uniform.

He said seven people were kidnapped, adding that, “We are currently preparing their bodies for funeral.”

Unconfirmed sources in the community said the attackers might be on a reprisal mission as one of the bandits’ leaders was captured and killed by the newly commissioned community watch corps in the local government.

He said, “There was a bandits kingpin close to Katsira village who boasted that he would eliminate the new community watch corps. They mobilized and killed him in the process.

“It was a few days ago, and that is why we strongly believe that his boys mobilized to carry out this attack.”

The police spokesman in Katsina, ASP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, who confirmed the last night attack, said five persons were killed.