Thousands block Kankara-Yantumaki-Katsina road to protest insecurity

Thousands of aggrieved residents from Danmusa, Safana and Maatazu local government areas of Katsina state on Monday morning, blocked the Kankara–Yantumaki–Katsina road to protest a spate of insecurity in the area.

They came from more than 50 villages across the affected council areas, a protester told Daily Trust.

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“Most of the protesters are those chased away from their villages as a result of the killings and raping by bandits and they are currently taking refuge in Yantumaki town.

“The protest is just to draw the attention of the country to the kind of situation we are in in this area and the government’s failure to protect lives and properties,” he said.

They set up bonfires with tyres and wood logs, making it difficult for commuters to plying the road.

Another protester said security forces were at the scene initially to disperse the protesters by shooting in the air but eventually ended up trying to calm the protesters peacefully.

“First, it was soldiers that came and started shooting sporadically to scare the protesters, but when the DPO Danmusa came, we explained to them that we are not out to harm anyone but to register our anger concerning the problem of insecurity in our area,” he said.

“Both men, women young and old participated in the protest and I can assure you we are more than 10,000 here,” he added.

Daily Trust gathered that there was recent attack on Musawa town where people from neighbouring villages have come for refuge and had up to 1000 cattle rustled.

Residents of the area also said over 2000 migrants are now taking refuge in Yantumaki town alone and last Sunday 225 cows were reportedly rustled at Amarawa village in Danmusa LGA .

In the last three days alone, villages were displaced in Danmusa and Matazu, local governments through incessant attacks include Ilali, Kanawa, Kakulu, Yelwa, Fafu, Maruji, Unguwar Ganye, Mazoji, Kwarare, Yardanko, Jirga, Salihawar Mai Tanki, Salihawar Ado Mope.

On Sunday, three people were abducted at Sabuwar Abuja Quarters in Danmusa town, while a shop was ransacked and set ablaze alongside the owner of the shop in Dugul village.

Confirming the incident, a Police spokesman in Katsina, SP Gambo Isah, said “We woke up this morning with a report of protest by some youths at Yantumaki area because of bandits’ attack at Amarawa village where two villagers were killed by the hoodlums.

“The Command in collaboration with military and other security agencies are on top of the situation as personnel and equipment are additionally deployed to deal with the recalcitrant bandits  hibernating in the area.”