Bandits gun down 7 near military checkpoint, abduct many in Katsina, Kaduna

At least 7 persons have been killed near a military checkpoint in Fasakari Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The bandits behind the attack also abducted many persons, including women and children.

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The Deputy Speaker of Katsina State House of Assembly, Shehu Dalhatu Tafoki, who is the member representing Faskari constituency, told Daily Trust that the incident was one of the four attacks recorded in the area within a week.

The lawmaker said some other persons were killed while others were abducted.

“They attacked Kwakware Village where they abducted 17 people, mostly women. The following day, they stopped a driver, killed and burnt him in his car.

“Only Tuesday, they killed seven people and abducted five, and the place where the attacks took place was just a short distance from a military checkpoint,” he said.

In anger, residents of communities along Funtua-Sheme Road in Katsina State on Wednesday blocked the Funtua-Gusau Road to protest the spate of attacks.

Governor Bello Masari recently led some elders to President Muhammadu Buhari over the killings in the state.

A traveller, Imam Abubakar, told our reporter that commuters were stranded as a result of the protest.

The police spokesman in Katsina, SP Gambo Isah, did not respond to calls and a text message sent to him.

Also on Wednesday, bandits abducted scores of travellers along the Kaduna-Birnin Gwari highway after attacking a convoy of 20 vehicles with a police escort.

The details of the incident that happened around 11am were sketchy but it was gathered that most of the victims were traders on their way to Kano.

A community leader, Muhammadu Umaru, told Daily Trust that four of his neighbours were among those abducted.

“We have about 70 of our traders from Udawa town alone and there are others from neighbouring towns in the convoy that was attacked between Udawa and Buruku along the highway.

“My neighbours were involved because we called their phones and a bandit picked the call,” he said.

It was gathered that some of the traders that ran into the bush called their relations to inform them of the situation.

The police spokesman in the state, ASP Jalige Mohammed, promised to comment on the incident after gathering details.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, had enjoined all Imams and pastors within the emirate to begin special prayers for the restoration of peace and stability in the area and nation as a whole.

Kaduna has been facing bandits’ attacks for a while and the state governor, Nasir El-Rufai, stated his administration’s intention is to kill all bandits.

He said this on Tuesday after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on the recent attack that claimed 40 lives in the state.