Women, children weep in video of captives released by Bandits

Bandits have released a video showing the captives kidnapped from Maidabino town in the Danmusa local government area of Katsina state.

On June 22, bandits in their numbers ransacked Maidabino, the third largest town in Danmusa, where they killed about nine people and abducted 50 others, mostly women and children.

Reports said the attackers operated for several hours unchallenged due to their large number, as they were said to be on reprisal mission.

During the attack, over 10 houses, 15 shops, and at least nine vehicles were burnt down by the marauding terrorists who operated from 10pm on Saturday till about 2:30 am on Sunday.

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Days after the ugly incident , the bandits released a video clip of 5 minutes and 41 seconds, in which they displayed the kidnapped people, asking to call on the government to come to their rescue.

In the video, the bandits claimed that members of the Community Watch Corps, the state owned security outfits, were killing their wives and children, hence the reprisal attack on Maidabino.

The bandits also threatened that Danmusa town will be their next target of attack, which they boldly mentioned that it will done within a week.

Speaking in the video, one of the terrorists, clad in army uniform, carrying a machine gun, said not even the state governor could rescue the captives unless through dialogue.

“You see what your vigilante (Community Watch Corps) have caused you, and they cannot come and rescue you, not even Governor Radda could rescue you here, unless through reconciliation.”

“And if nothing is done towards reconciliation, this is just the beginning. I can open fire and kill all of you, and nothing will happen. We are going to attack Danmusa this week and we are going to bring their people here, you will see them. We will also bring your Community Watch Corps members here before you leave this place.”

“What our people from Yartsamiya town are telling us is that the bandits have mobilized their people from Zamfara state and they have already started planning the mega attack.

“They are holding meetings, we heard that they met about three times to perfect their plan, and we are afraid that if no proactive measure is taken, these terrorists will wreak havoc in Danmusa.”

Another resident who also confirmed the impending attack, said almost on a daily basis, the bandits attack and kidnap people along Yantumaki-Damusa road, which is about 19 kilomettes long.

“We are appealing to the government to deploy more security personnel to this area to protect people from this impending attack and also from the daily occurrence of kidnapping along the Yantumaki road,” he said.

He added that although the security forces and the community watch corps are doing their best, they seemed to be overwhelmed.