Gunmen kill two brothers, kidnap victims’ sibling

Two brothers who were undergraduates at the Al-Qalam University were yesterday morning shot dead by unknown gunmen in Katsina State.Rabiu Bature, 22, a 200-level student, and Ibrahim Bature, 23, a 400-level student, were killed at Bagiwa village, in Mani council area.

The gunmen, who stormed the residence of the victims at about 2:00a.m. also shot the victims’ mother in the thigh, while they bundled and kidnapped their elder brother.A relation to the victims, Lawal Bagiwa, while speaking to newsmen, identified the two students that were killed.

Bagiwa said: “I was asleep around 1:15a.m. when one of my mothers-in-law called me that they killed Rabiu. So, I rushed and drove down from Katsina. Information I got was that the gunmen stormed the house, met one of the children, shot him in the head and he died on the spot.“The other was coming out and they shot him on his hand but he didn’t die at that point. Their mother came out and they shot her on her laps. They proceeded to the apartment of the most senior in the house and were asking him to give them money.

“He told them he doesn’t have money on him but they should go to his car where he gave them money. They said it was not enough. At that point, they decide to kidnap him.“They were taking him away when they came and meet there was an attempt to take the other boy that was shot in the hand to the hospital, so they shot and killed him instantly. They took the most senior in the house away and there has been no contact till now.

“The Area Commander, Daura had visited us and later the Commissioner of Police who assured us that they are on top of the situation,” Bagiwa said.Another source and a neighbour, Lawal Buhari Bagiwa said the perpetrators also knocked on his door and was about to open the door thinking it was his brother who came knocking, when he heard gunshots.

“They were not here for money because if they were here for money, it would have been sorted out but when they came, they were shooting, and were heard screaming ‘we have killed the black one, remaining the fair one.’”“We don’t know the boys to be drug addicts. In fact, they are about to commence their exams in the school. Upon completion of their mission, the perpetrators drove in their car towards Mani area,” he said.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Gambo Isah, who confirmed the development, said the police was on top of the situation and would not leave any stone unturned till the perpetrators were brought to book.The victims have since been buried according to Islamic rites.