THE Katsina State Police Command has confirmed the killing of no fewer than 20 persons, four Police officers and two operatives of the state-owned Community Watch Corps by some suspected bandits.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu (ASP), who disclosed this in a statement in Katsina on Monday, June 10, said the attack occurred on Sunday, June 9, at Gidan Tofa and Dan Nakwabo villages in Kankara Local Council of the state.
He stated: “Yesterday, June 9, 2024, bandits, in their numbers, armed with dangerous weapons, attacked the villages, shot and killed 20 people, injured two and ambushed our Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) patrol team, responding to the distress call, killing four Police officers and two members of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps (KSCWC).
“On the same date, a distress call was received at the Kankara Divisional Headquarters that bandits, in their numbers, riding on motorcycles, armed with dangerous weapons, shooting sporadically, attacked Gidan Baki village, killing unsuspecting villagers.
“Immediately, the nearest Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) patrol team was dispatched to the scene. While en route to the village, the team discovered that the attack was actually on Gidan Boka village, via Yar Goje village, all in Kankara. The team quickly redirected towards the scene.
“Upon reaching Kurmeji village, via Yar Goje, the team fell into an ambush, where a firefight ensued between the team and the bandits.”
He said upon receipt of the information on the attack of the responding team, the DPO swiftly mobilised and led a team of operatives to the scene and restored normalcy, adding that during preliminary investigation, it was discovered that the bandits attacked Gidan Boka village, killing 15 people and injuring two others.
“They also ambushed our patrol team and killed four Police officers, three Inspectors and one Corporal, and two members of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps (KSCWC).
“Also, the bandits, while escaping through Dan Nakwabo village, shot and killed five persons. Further developments will be communicated as the investigation proceeds,” Sadiq-Aliyu said.
The spokesman stated that the Command has deployed additional operational assets to the area to work with all the relevant stakeholders towards preventing the recurrence of the attacks and ensuring the arrest of the perpetrators.
