Killings: Passengers trapped as protesters block major road in Katsina

Some aggrieved residents of communities along Funtua-Sheme Road in Katsina state have blocked Funtua-Gusau Road over bandits attack.

A traveller, Imam Abubakar, told our reporter that commuters were trapped by the protest.

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“We are trapped here; I cannot tell the number of vehicles plying the road that are blocked by the protesters. As we speak with you, we can hear gunshots as police and military men are deployed to the area, but the protesters have blocked the road, burning tyres,” he said.

Bandits had reportedly attacked some communities around the area where they killed seven persons and abducted five women.

Sources said the incident took place in Faskari local government of the state during an over night attack.

“In Kanon Haki village, five persons were killed by the bandits while two persons were killed in Unguwar Alhaji Ibrahim Maiwada,” a source said.

The source noted the villages were attacked around 9pm on Monday.

Reacting to the incident, the Deputy Speaker of the Katsina State House of Assembly, who is the member representing Faskari constituency, said there were about four bandits’ attacks in the area within a week.

The lawmaker said he raised a motion on matters of urgent public importance, where he prayed before the House, calling on government to scale up its measures against banditry in the state.

“The situation is dire and authorities must rise up to the occasion. We must protect lives and properties of the people who gave us their trust. It is disheartening to see them being killed all the time,” he said.

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