Bandits, in a fresh attack on Yar Nasarawa, a village in the Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State, have killed at least three people, injured 10 others and set several houses and vehicles ablaze.
Residents said the bandits struck at night when the villagers had gone to bed.
The spokesman for the Katsina State Police Command, ASP Abubakar Aliyu, confirmed the attack, saying policemen had been deployed in the bush to hunt down the killers.
He said, “On February 19, 2024, at about 11.30 pm, some suspected bandits, in their numbers, armed with weapons such as AK-47 rifles, attacked Nasarawa village, Faskari LGA, where they shot and killed six persons, injured about 10, and set ablaze three houses and about 10 motor vehicles.
“The CP has since deployed the command’s tactical, operational and intelligence to the scene, combing the surrounding bushes for the possible arrest of the perpetrators for diligent prosecution.”
Residents however further revealed that the bandits also attacked Ruwangodiya village in the same local government area on Monday night where they rustled an unspecified number of domestic animals.
A resident, who pleaded for anonymity, said, “The hoodlums also attacked Ruwan Godiya village in the same local government area and carried out their nefarious activities where residents are now counting their losses.”
Also, bandits attacked Ikobi community in the Apa Local Government Area of Benue State where they killed one person and injured one other.
A local who preferred to remain anonymous for fear of being attacked said the victims were on their way back home when they were ambushed and attacked between Ikobi and Oloba villages on Monday.
According to him, the victim who was killed had just returned from Lagos recently to see his aged widowed mother when he met his untimely death.
The source said, “One person, Aminu Akanu, was killed between Ikobi and Oloba at 5 pm. We buried him about 11 pm last night (Monday).
“He came from Lagos recently to see his mother. His father, a police officer, died some years ago.
“He went to the LG headquarters in Ugbokpo on Monday to settle some things before coming to Ikobi and that was when he was attacked at Oloba.”
When contacted, the Chairman of Apa Development Association, Eche Ikobi confirmed the killing.
He said they were on their bike returning to the village when they were shot.
“One died on the spot while the other person escaped with gunshot wounds. He is receiving treatment as we speak,” he said.
Meanwhile, personnel of the Nigerian Air Force have arrested a suspected kidnap kingpin, Isah Abdul, in the Takai Local Government Area of Kano State.
The Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF, Air Vice Marshal, Edward Gabkwet, said 35-year-old Abdul was arrested during a coordinated operation on his hideout on Monday following an intelligence report.
He said Abdul and his gang were responsible for the abduction of one Yakubu Tagaho, popularly known as Sarkin Noman Gaya, on April 6, 2023.
He noted that the victim paid N30m ransom.
“Preliminary investigation has since revealed that Isah Abdul and his gang were responsible for the abduction of one Yakubu Ibrahim Tagaho, popularly known as ‘Sarkin Noman Gaya,’ on 6 April 2023, from his residence in Tagaho Village in the Takai Local Government Area. The victim was, however, released a month later after a ransom of N30,000,000 was collected.
“In December 2023, the same criminal abducted two sisters and three others in the same village and released them after collecting a huge ransom. He is also responsible for several other kidnapping activities as he has strong ties with other known kidnapping gangs like the Danbul Fulaku gang that also operates in Takai LGA.”
Gabkwet said the suspect would be handed over to appropriate authorities after the conclusion of an investigation.
