Armed bandits on Friday evening invaded two villages in Batsari local Government area of Katsina State, home State of President Muhammadu Buhari in Nigeria’s Northwest region, killing 33 people.
Sources said that the armed bandits, who have been terrorizing the region for almost three years, entered the two villages of Tsauwa and Dankar 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. Katsina State Commissioner of Police, Mr Sanusi Buba, who led a joint team of Police and the Nigerian Army under ‘Operation Puff Adda,’ and journalists to the two affected villages on Saturday, confirmed the incident.
Mr Buba expressed sadness over the situation, saying about 21 persons were confirmed death in Tsauwa village and that they were mostly elderly men.
But sources and local villager however confirmed that 23 persons were killed in Tsauwa while 10 persons were killed in neighboring Dankar villages.
When the joint security team arrived the villages, the people of Tsauwa village were seen burying the corpses of their beloved families, in tears.
Scenes of burnt houses littered the landscape in Tsauwa including the burning of domestic animals like goats, sheep and cattle. Sources said that the bandits left with foods and other household items looted from the villages.
Neighbouring Dankar village was turned to a ghost town as residents have fled for safety in nearby towns to avoid further attacks.
The villagers appealed to President Buhari and the Governor of the State, Mr Aminu Bello Masari, to quickly intervene and stop the incessant bandits’ attacks in the State in order for the citizens to have rest of mind. One resident was lamenting openly, saying, “the President cannot even protect his own people or village.”
