80 Residents Missing After Bandits Attack Katsina Community

Suspected bandits who killed four soldiers and one vigilante last Sunday at Yar-Malamai village of Faskari local government area of Katsina State have regrouped and invaded the town again a day after, kidnapping 80 residents.

The attack came after soldiers deployed to the area furiously deserted their camp to mourn their colleagues who paid the supreme sacrifice.

A credible source, who is a resident of the area, told our reporter on Tuesday evening that the bandits spent about 10 hours burning houses, and looting foodstuff, fertilisers and other valuables from people’s shops.

He said, “The bandits attacked the community again from 6am to 4pm, looting people’s shops; they burnt several houses, and vehicles, and went away with many residents of the town a few hours after soldiers left the area.”

A senior council official in the area who confirmed the incident to LEADERSHIP said that the people had deserted the town due to the consistency of attacks they experienced within two days.

He said, “At the moment, only six houses are left standing in Yar-Mallamai; the bandits came back and attacked us, kidnapped about 80 people, mostly women, injured a lot of people and left with foodstuff and other valuables.

“We are seriously devastated; our people are seriously in need of food and shelter. We want the government to come to our aid and assist our people in whatever ways they can, as far as possible.

“This all started when the bandits ambushed and killed four soldiers, and one vigilante member, injured several others and burnt a vehicle belonging to the Army. This made the soldiers furiously abandon the place and, as soon as they left, in less than an hour the bandits invaded the community.

“They burnt houses and vehicles, and went away with women and motorcycles. When it was late, they still came back and continued to burn houses and kidnap women. As I’m talking to you, the houses that are still standing in Yar-Mallamai are not more than six. Only one vehicle was left unburnt in the town out of eight.”

He called for the return of the soldiers “to come and protect us in the community so that our people can return home.”

LEADERSHIP reports that as of the time of filing this report, there had been an official statement regarding the incident either from the government or the Army.