Over 1000 IDPs flee Zamfara, camped in Katsina

More than 1,000 people have fled their communities in Zamfara state following activities of bandits, and have been camped at a school in Kankara council area of Katsina state.

The IDPs, camped at the Kankara central primary school, and had fled from more than a dozen villages in Tsafe council area of Zamfara state.

The number has continued to rise as at Friday afternoon, with more expected at the Katsina camp on Saturday.

Some of the villages they fled from include Sabon Gari, Yartalata, Mandaba, Buke-Buke, Dogon Kawo, Asaula, among others.

Chairman of Tsafe council area, Aliyu Abubakar had told newsmen that 1,700 persons have been displaced in the last two weeks from his area.

In June this year, more than 3,500 fled their homes from the state to Dansabau village, in same Kankara council area.

The Katsina state government had provided food and other necessities for the IDPs for weeks before they went back to their communities.

But officials of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) from both states, are said to have arrived the school camp to assess situation and give assistance to the IDPs.

Zamfara, which neighbours Katsina, has been having incessant cases of bandit activities, in addition to rustling of domestic animals, as well as kidnapping of hapless citizens.

Due to the problem, the federal government had some months ago dispatched military and paramilitary personnel to help address the situation.

The security personnel often used the international airport in Katsina metropolis, as launch base for their operation.