Bakori Massacre: We’re Hurting, Vulnerable – Residents Cry Out

Tuesday, February 2, 2023 would remain fresh in the minds of inhabitants of Bakori LGA of Katsina State following a bloody terrorist attack that claimed the lives of over 100 members of a local vigilante group commonly called ‘Yansakai’.

The young volunteers met their untimely death in Kankara LGA when they attempted to recover some animals rustled by the hoodlums terrorising the neighbourhood.

The attack has heightened tension, sorrow and pain in the state especially residents of Guga, Kakumi, Kandarawa and Jargaba wards in the Bakori council area who were the worst-hit by the activities of hooligans.

Katsina State is one of the northwest states mostly affected by the menace of banditry, kidnapping for ransom, rape and cattle rustling in recent years. Despite several measures put in place by the government to curtail the challenges, the criminal elements have continued to unleash mayhem on innocent rural dwellers, causing untold hardship and paralysing socio-economic activities in the area.

Investigations revealed that the bandits operate from their hideouts in the massive and dreaded Rugu forest that cuts across Jibia, Safana, Danmusa, Batsari, Dandume, Sabuwa, Kankara and Faskari local government areas.

But the renewed onslaught in Kankara is one of the bloodiest attacks that have thrown thousands in the affected communities into great anguish and a state of hopelessness, especially losing bread winners of their respective families.

It was gathered that the terrorists ambushed the members of the vigilante group while they were chasing to retrieve some rustled livestock.

The community leader of Guga, Mahadi Guga, confirmed the burial of 72 bodies retrieved from the battlefield, while about 102 people were missing in the affected communities.

He said, “We are now in great fear and tension since the incident happened, we’ve been more vulnerable than ever. The government came and sympathised with us as usual and promised to investigate the matter.”

Guga urged the government to rise to its responsibility of protecting the lives and property of the people, especially those living in the rural areas, proposing that, if need be, the government should dialogue with the bandits and the communities to achieve lasting peace in the area.

One of the vigilante leaders who participated in the clash but didn’t want his name in print, said the casualty figure could be more as the attack affected different communities.

A resident who lost his brother, simply identified as Abdullahi, said the agony they were going through was too much to bear.

“I don’t have to tell you the kind of agony we are currently passing through. To lose a life is very sad and painful not to talk of about 100 others lost in the attack. We have lost hope; we are left on our own, and those who are responsible for protecting our lives and property have not done their work,” he said.

A woman who lost her son, Usman, also expressed her sadness, said that her son shouldn’t have died on that fateful day.

Affirming that the late Usman, who is about 25 years of age, left behind his young wife and little children. She, however, expressed her determination and willingness to fight back and defend themselves whenever the bandits attempt to strike again.

While explaining how the clash happened, a credible security source, who also pleaded anonymity said, “I was one of those who evacuated the corpses. What I have witnessed so far is that 41 bodies were initially evacuated and later I heard that about 28 more were recovered, but I was not part of the last operation.

“It was a clash between some Fulani settlements and members of vigilante groups who mobilised from villages in Bakori LGA. We could not ascertain what caused the problem. But we gathered that some bandits went to those areas and rustled some animals and some residents mobilised and pursued the footpath that led to the main road to search for their cattle and possibly impound some of them so that they will talk with the bandits since they are familiar with each other.

“This was how the clash started and by the time we got the information, about 18 people were already killed. When we got there, both sides had retreated and we thought the fight was over, not knowing that they all went back to regroup, mobilise more fighters and return. Unfortunately, it was late in the evening and our armoured personnel carrier (APC) was faulty, so we could not go back.

“The following morning (Friday), we got reinforcement from the military that came with an APC. We went to the scene together and evacuated 20 corpses. The second time, the area commander of Funtua came with two APCs and we went and evacuated another 15 corpses and then six, making a total of 41 on Friday.

“Then on Saturday, the chairman of Bakori LGA came with the families of the victims. They hired a truck and by then, our APC was repaired. They went round the scene and recovered more corpses, but since I was not part of that, I don’t know the exact figure, but some were saying 28 or thereabout.”

In addition, the Katsina State police command through its spokesman, Gambo Isah, has also confirmed the death of 41 as reported, adding that investigations were still ongoing to ascertain the primary cause of the clash.

The state government has since sent a high delegation led by the secretary to the state government, Alhaji Muntali Lawal, to the affected communities to condole with the families of the victims and their community leaders over the ugly incident.

The delegation also visited some affected villages and assured the families of the state government’s commitment to conducting a thorough investigation on the matter, promising that they would set up a committee, with two representatives from each of the affected communities, on how relief materials would be distributed to families of the victims.

Speaking with journalists, Governor Aminu Masari said there were conflicting figures on the number of persons killed in the attack among the security operatives, stressing that the current figure from the police stands at 71.

He said most of the vigilantes killed are the ‘Yansakai’ and not the trained vigilante. He wondered why the bandits’ corpses were not also found among those killed because they also reportedly suffered great casualties from the attack.

The governor further stressed the need to ascertain the correct account of what happened, hence the necessity to set up the committee, adding that “the attack was carefully planned. There is the failure of local community leaders supported by the deposition of the district head. We are going to profile the people in the LGA”.

He promised to support the families of the deceased, especially widows and orphans.

At the presidential rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Katsina, a prayer session was observed for the deceased persons who lost their lives in the clash, as both President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu sympathised with families of the victims.

In a statement issued by Garba Shehu, senior special adviser to the president on media, President Buhari condemned the attack, describing it as “horrific”.

He paid tribute to all the vigilantes and the family members who were slain, adding that the sacrifices of the “brave men” who were working to prevent and punish crime in their communities would not be forgotten. On his part, Tinubu donated the sum of N100 million to victims of banditry in the state.

Also, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, condemned the attack. According to a statement by Atiku’s media adviser, Paul Ibe, he condoled with the people over the incident.