10 killed as ‘bandits’ raid Katsina village

At least 10 persons have been killed in an attack on Kirtawa village in Safana local government area of Katsina state.

The attack which occurred on Saturday evening, left at least five persons injured.

Gambo Isah, spokesman of the Katsina police command, made this known in a statement on Sunday.

He said suspected bandits set ablaze five vehicles, four motorcycles and carted away an unspecified number of cows.

He said a soldier and one official of the Nigerian Civil Defence Corps were injured in a gun duel with the attackers.

“On 13/07/2019 at about 17:20hrs, a group of bandits numbering 300 on motorcycles armed with dangerous weapons invaded and attacked Kirtawa village, Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State,” the statement read.

“DPO of Safana initially led teams of Operations Puff Adder and Sharan-Daji to the scene and engaged the hoodlums in a gun duel.

“In the process, the hoodlums shot the tires of the Police Armoured Personnel Vehicle and injured one Army and one Civil Defence personnel.

“At the time the combined ground forces were mobilised into the village, the hoodlums had already operated and escaped into the forest.

“Ten persons were found dead, five injured, five motor vehicles and four motorcycles were set ablaze. Unspecified number of cows were also rustled by the hoodlums.

“It is ostensibly clear that it was a reprisal attack carried out by the hoodlums against the community.

“Joint security forces have been deployed to the area to arrest the situation, pursue and arrest the fleeing hoodlums.

“The Command commiserates with families of the deceased and the entire people of Katsina State over the unfortunate incident.”