No fewer than eight people were killed by gunmen suspected to be bandits when they attacked a convoy of traders returning from the local market at Yantumaki town of Danmusa local government of Katsina State at the weekend.
The chairman of the drivers’ union in the area, Kabiru Dangaye, disclosed that the terrorists opened fire on the traders amidst the presence of well-armed soldiers escorting the traders in a convoy of 25 vehicles on Friday.
He said eight people died instantly while those wounded were taken to hospital.
“Our drivers waited for hours as usual for other drivers and traders to come from neighbouring communities to begin the journey. We had about 25 vehicles and then called the soldiers to come and escort us as usual and the soldiers drove in their vehicle,” he said.
Dangaye added that the meeting point was Mai Dabino, a community in Danmusa area where they took off in a convoy, and as they passed Sabon Garin Nasarawa and Mahuta, they ran into an ambush around Makera area.
“The terrorists were in four vehicles and it was when the leading vehicle reached the second to the last group that the terrorists began the shooting. When the soldiers driving at the back aimed to move faster to the front, another set of terrorists began shooting at them, but the soldiers engaged them and because of their numerical strength the terrorists had the upper hand over the soldiers,” he said.
Mr Dangaye added that a distress call was made to the Community Watch Corps who came with more soldiers to help the traders.
Police in Katsina State are yet to comment on the attack, and efforts made to reach their spokesman, Abubakar Sadik, failed at the time of filing this report.
