In a tragic incident, bandits reportedly attacked Kuka Babangida village in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State early Thursday morning, killing at least nine residents, including the village head, Idris Haruna. The attackers operated for several hours, going from house to house in search of valuables.
Confirming the incident, the chairman of the local government council, Bashir Sabiu, and the spokesman for the Katsina police command, ASP Abubakar Aliyu, expressed their condolences. Villagers reported that the bandits took the time to search for valuables, including money, and killed the village head, his four children, and four others during the attack.
It remains unclear whether the bandits abducted people or looted valuables. Efforts were being made to bury the victims as the community grapples with the aftermath of the brutal attack.
This comes in the wake of a similar incident where bandits killed six traders last Friday on their way to a local market in the Danmusa Local Government Area of the state.
In response to the recurring banditry, the former Secretary to the Katsina State Government, Alhaji Inuwa Mustapha, urged governors of North-Western States to collaborate in tackling the menace. He emphasized that no single state could effectively address the problem alone and called for a coordinated and simultaneous operation against the bandits.
Mustapha urged the governors to put pressure on the federal government to provide assistance in combating banditry and other crimes in the region. He emphasized the need for a well-coordinated effort, including the use of air and ground troops, with the support of local guides and hunters familiar with the terrains.
The former SSG expressed concern about the impact of banditry on schools and markets, calling for urgent and collaborative action to bring an end to the security challenges in the region.
