Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari, on Sunday condemned the latest round of armed bandits attacks in Damkal and Tsanwa villages in Batsari local government area of Katsina State, his home State in Northwest Nigeria, saying that killing people in the name of revenge is not acceptable.
Reacting to the incident in which many homesteads were razed by fire with many people killed last Friday, President Buhari warned that “no one in the country has a right to take laws into his hands by the way of self-help or revenge. Local communities that catch bandits should hand over the suspects to law enforcement authorities instead of meting out capital punishment, leading to a cycle of revenge and counter revenge.”
The armed bandits on Friday evening invaded the two villages at the time of Muslim prayer around 6:30pm, killing the 33 persons and injuring dozens of others.
In addition, they also burnt several houses, animals and properties worth millions of Naira. President Buhari urged community leaders and the local authorities to continue their efforts in partnership with law enforcement agencies that bring the surrender of bandits, leading to peace between farmers and herders.
“The authorities must be allowed to investigate and deal with any breach that occurs. There is no place for violence in a decent society,” said the President.
President Buhari prayed that God will comfort families that have lost loved ones in the attacks and repose the souls of the victims.
