A sense of despair has settled over Kankara Local Government Area in Katsina State as armed bandits unleashed a fresh wave of terror, leaving eight dead, scores abducted and several others wounded.
The relentless attacks, spanning two days, have sent villagers fleeing into forests in a desperate bid for safety.
“It’s chaos here,” a local source said. “They’ve taken another truckload of people, and many are running for their lives.”
The source described scenes of panic as residents scrambled to escape the ruthless criminals.
The bandits, allegedly led by notorious kingpin Ba’baru of Gidan Gamji, targeted multiple communities, including Gidan Damo, Gidan Umoru and Ungwan Mai Kawo.
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Witnesses reported widespread destruction, with homes burned and vehicles stolen.
A local resident, requesting anonymity, painted a grim picture: “Yesterday, they killed one person at Gidan Damo, another at Gidan Umoru and two more in Ungwan Mai Kawo.
Today, the situation worsened, with Yargoje and Dankunuji residents bearing the brunt.” Four people are currently hospitalized, struggling for their lives.
The source attributed the violence to Ba’baru’s determination to wipe out Kankara’s Hausa population. This isn’t the first time Ba’baru has been linked to bloodshed; he allegedly orchestrated the killing of over 100 people during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s 2014 campaign visit to Katsina.
As bandits expelled from Zamfara converge on Katsina’s border communities, fears grow that the violence will escalate. “They’re joining local gangs, infiltrating Katsina and unleashing terror,” the source warned.
The Katsina Police Command has yet to confirm the report, leaving residents wondering when the carnage will end.