President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the latest attacks by bandits in three local government areas of his home State of Katsina in which 47 persons dead.
The killings involved residents of several villages in Danmusa, Dutsinma and Safana local government areas of Katsina State and were killed on Saturday morning.
Spokesperson of the State Police Command, Mr Gambo Isah, said: “On 18/04/2020 at about 00:30hrs, bandits in their numbers, armed with AK 47 rifles attacked Kurechi village of Danmusa LGA of Katsina state. The villagers summoned courage and chased away the hoodlums. Later the villagers started burning down empty corn stalk to keep their animals safe and to keep the hoodlums at Bay. Subsequently the situation changed when some group started setting ablaze some settlements at Aibon Mangwaro village of Danmusa LGA of Katsina state”
“Consequently, on the same date at about 03:00hrs, there was reports of organized and simultaneous attacks in villages in Danmusa, Dutsenma and Safana by groups of armed bandits. At Kurechin Atai village of Danmusa 14 persons were killled. At Kurechin Giye and Kurechin Dutse villages of Dutsinma LGA of Katsina state bandits killed 4 and 6 persons respectively. And at Makauwachi and Daule villages the hoodlums killed 19 and 4 persons respectively.”
Isah added that “already, a detachment of Police, Nigerian Army, Nigeria Air Force, Civil Defence and Department of State Security have been drafted to the area. Currently, an operation is still ongoing by the combine joint force.”
Reacting to the incident on Sunday, the President said that he is deeply saddened by the latest development, and called on Nigerians not to despair because this administration is ever determined to defeat and crush these criminal elements taking advantage of the lockdown to attack their victims.
President Buhari said he will not tolerate this large scale killing of innocent people by the bandits, adding that “in line with my commitment to security of the people, these attacks will be met with decisive force.”
The President directed the security agencies not to rest on their oars or lower their guard which will create a vacuum for the bandits to strike.
While extending his sympathies to the families of the victims, he called on the people to show more vigilance by reporting the activities of criminal elements in their midst.