Many youths Tuesday morning blocked the ever busy Kankara – Katsina road around Yantumaki village in Danmusa Local Government Area of Katsina State protesting the rising insecurity in their areas.
The youths, chanting war songs, set fire on the road while turning back motorists and other road users from passing through their village.
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Hundreds of motorists had to abandon the route to access Katsina town or Gusau in Zamfara State for safety.
The action of the youths was coming a day after a health worker, Mansir Yusuf, and his daughter were kidnapped from the community.
Also, last week, the district head of the area, Atiku Maidabino, was killed by unidentified gunmen at his palace.
The locals said hardly a day goes by without any reported attack on the community or its neighbouring villages.
Similarly, the residents of Daddara community and neighbouring villages of Jibia local government area, last month, blocked the Katsina – Jibia- Maradi (Niger Republic) international gateway in protest over the unabated killings and attacks by bandits in their domain.
It took the intervention of policemen and some traditional rulers from the area to calm the youths leading to the reopening of the road at about midday.
We have calmed the situation – Police
However, later in the evening, men of Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in Katsina finally calmed the protesting youths at Yantumaki village and reopened the hitherto closed road for motorists.
The spokesman of the state command of the NPF, SP Gambo Isah, said: “We are monitoring the situation and our men are firmly on ground controlling the situation to ensure that the protesters do not take the law into their hands as miscreants can take over the situation and start looting or burning property.
“The Command and indeed other security agencies are not leaving any stone unturned to ensure those responsible for the two recent crimes are brought to book.
“The Commissioner of Police has detailed Area Commander in Dutsinma to relocate to Yantumaki as more senior officers are deployed to the area to take care of the situation” he added.
District heads threatens relocation
No fewer than 12 district heads from Katsina’s eight troubled local government areas have threatened relocation following the rising insecurity in their respective domains.
Daily Trust reports that the district heads are those from; Jibia, Safana, Dandume, Faskari, Sabuwa, Kankara, Danmusa and Batsari.
The affected district heads on Monday stormed the palace of the emir of Katsina, Abdulmumin Kabir Usman, to “protest” the continued unabated attacks on their domains by bandits.
The districts heads also told the emir that their lives were at risk, especially with the recent cold blood murder of their colleague, the district head of Yantumaki, late Atiku Maidabino last week.
Maidabino was killed in front of his wives and children by his assailants.
An affected district head, who was part of the meeting, confided in our reporter that the meeting was necessary and timely giving the daily reported attacks leading to death of people, rustling of animals amongst others.
He said; “we were at the palace to share our concerns of what is happening and the risks to our lives because what has happened to our colleague called for concerns. We fear for our lives at our bases”
“The emir reasoned with us and was equally concern over the matter.
“He (emir) assured us of meeting with the state governor, security chiefs and if need be presidency over the matter,” he added.
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