No fewer than 26 people were killed when terrorists invaded Gidan Boka village, Kankara Local Government Area (LGA) in Katsina State on Sunday at about 3p.m.
The Katsina State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Abubakar Aliyu, in a statement on Monday said that the terrorists who were “armed with dangerous weapons,” attacked Gidan Boka village, killing 20 villagers and injuring two others.
The statement added that while responding to a distress call, a Police patrol team in an Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) was ambushed by the terrorists near Kurmeji village via Yar Goje.
“The slain security personnel include three Police Inspectors, one Corporal, and two members of the Katsina Community Watch Corps,” the statement added.
Sadiq explained that the patrol team, initially dispatched to Gidan Baki village, discovered the actual target to be Gidan Boka village and redirected their route, but unfortunately, they were ambushed upon reaching Kurmeji village, resulting in a firefight.
The bandits reportedly killed five more people while escaping through Dan Nakwabo village.
The State Commissioner of Police, Musa Aliyu, expressed condolences to the families of the victims and vowed to work with relevant stakeholders to apprehend the perpetrators.
He confirmed the deployment of additional operational assets to the area to prevent further attacks.