Bandits kill four, ransack Katsina community

• ACF knocks govt over kidnappings on Abuja-Kaduna road
• Vigilance group seeks Buhari’s assent to bill • Why insecurity persists, by Tambuwal
• Military upbeat on war against insurgents, criminals, says CAS • President tasks African first ladies on peace

[FILES] Katsina State, Nigeria. (Photo by PIUS UTOMI EKPEI / AFP) (Photo credit should read PIUS UTOMI EKPEI/AFP via Getty Images)

The incident occurred Sunday night at about 9:00 p.m. and lasted till 10:30 p.m.

The attackers injured many residents, looted homes and rustled dozens of animals.

Sources said the assailants numbering about 100 stormed the community via motorcycles, wielding sophisticated weapons.

Barawa is located about 10 kilometres from the state capital.

“They killed and looted without let. And there was no help from security operatives. We counted four dead bodies, three males and one female. We’ll find out the number of those remaining later,” said a witness.

One resident, Bello Musa, lamented the shutdown of mobile telecommunication networks in the state, saying it stopped the victims from seeking help.

Police spokesman, Gambo Isah, was yet to respond to an inquiry at press time.

BUT reacting to killings and kidnappings on the Abuja-Kaduna Road, the spokesman for Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Emmanuel Yawe, in a statement, yesterday, called on the government to save innocent Nigerians from the nightmare.

“The latest victim of this act of terror is Alhaji Hamida Sagir, a retired Director of Protocol at the Federal Capital Development Authority and former governorship aspirant in Zamfara State, who was shot and killed.

“On daily basis, Nigerians are being terrorised, kidnapped and killed without let on this road. This is a national shame and completely unacceptable to our Forum,” the statement said.

NIGERIAN Army, however, promised that in no distant time, the war against insurgency, banditry and other criminal elements would soon be won.

Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Faruk Yahaya, gave the assurance during a visit to Minna cantonment.

He said the military was aware of security challenges in parts of the North and that he was in the state to receive firsthand information from troops.

Yahaya expressed satisfaction with the brief of the Commander, 31 Artillery Brigade, and that of Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), even as he lauded the troops for steadfastness in dealing with criminals. He also
stressed the need to assist the military with information to combat crime.

THIS came as President Muhammadu Buhari denounced the activities of insurgents and bandits, which according to him, have led to widespread displacement of women and children.

He disclosed this, yesterday, during the opening of the 9th General Assembly of African First Ladies Peace Mission (AFLPM), at State House, Abuja.

The President expressed optimism that “as mothers”, the participants were “in a better position to drive the processes of peace and actions where necessary”.

The Assembly unanimously elected Nigeria’s First Lady, Aisha Buhari, as its new president.

In her acceptance speech, she pledged to execute her responsibility with total commitment and in accordance to AFLPM’s regulations.

In a related development, Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, blamed weak leadership and ethnic prejudice as factors fuelling rising insecurity in the country.

He stated this in Abuja, yesterday, at the fourth Criminal Law Review Conference, organised by the Rule of Law Development Foundation.

Tambuwal added that to ensure a stable, secure and democratic society, Nigeria must put in place an efficient criminal justice system.

MEANWHILE, Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) has appealed to Buhari to assent to the bill seeking to establish the security outfit.

It said contrary to insinuations, its mission is not to usurp or interfere with statutory functions of existing security agencies but provide support services.

The House of Representatives had, last week, passed the bill seeking to establish VGN.

Addressing reporters in Abuja, VGN Commander General, Navy Captain Umar Bakori (rtd), said the group has consistently played a complementary role, providing much-needed intelligence to the police and military.

“VGN personnel can serve as an important component of the first line of defense when given the opportunity. We are in every border town, and village assisting the Customs and Immigration agencies. We are also in every village, hamlet and city where drugs are cultivated and sold, assisting the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency with useful information,” he added.