Gunmen kill two vigilantes and abduct several residents of Katsina community

Gunmen killed two members of a local vigilante group and abducted several residents of Shola Quarters in the Katsina metropolis on Sunday morning.

Those kidnapped in the attack which lasted over an hour include a newly married couple.

Shola Quarters is located behind Umaru Musa Yar'adua University Hospital (formerly Federal Medical Center) Katsina.

The district, which is in the heart of the city, hosts commercial stores and residents as well as government offices.

PREMIUM TIMES collected from residents who asked not to be named that the terrorists invaded the area around 1:25 a.m. and operated for over an hour without being confronted by state security personnel.< /p>

"It was even the militia members who opposed them, but they (the bandits) killed two of them and injured the other two. The vigilante members had to retreat to their homes when the bandits overpowered them and it was just now (morning) that we recovered the two corpses and took the injured to the hospital,” the resident said.

Usman Masanawa, a cousin of the abducted newlyweds, explained how they were abducted.

"These (attacks) are getting scary. I used to reside in the area but had no choice but to move. When they arrived, Yusuf Bishir (husband) called for informed me but I couldn't have done anything. We went there this morning and they didn't even enter the house through the front gate; they broke the wall and entered the house," said Mr. Masanawa.

Mr. Masanawa said the number of abducted residents could not be determined, but "other residents said some houses were attacked and people were abducted."

"We need time to know those who were abducted and those who were scared and fled to other areas," he said.

He added that in addition to the injured militia members, other residents with gunshot wounds were taken to the University Hospital for treatment.

When contacted by PREMIUM TIMES about the attack, state police spokesman Gambo Isa responded via WhatsApp.

"Our officers are in operation and will provide you with details of the operation in due course."

He declined to provide further details.

Attacks on the Katsina metropolis are becoming frequent and worrying – Residents

Residents of the metropolitan center lamented the high rate of attacks on communities in the capital.

Katsina, like many other northwestern states and parts of the north-central region, has witnessed bandit activity for years, but attacks have mostly been seen in local areas.

In Katsina State, areas like Kankara, Jibia, Faskari, Batsari, Kurfi, Safana, Danmusa, Dandume, Sabuwa, Funtua, Bakori, Dutsin MaMa have been taken over by terrorists leading to the deaths of hundreds thousands of people and the displacement of others.

But in recent days, terrorists have become more and more daring and are attacking neighborhoods in the metropolis.

A public affairs commentator in Katsina, Muhammad - Aminu Kabir, lamented that the attacks are becoming worrying.

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"That's disturbing. Does that mean the bandits are done with the local communities? This wasn't the first time they've attacked Shola Quarters in a few months.

“Recall that they were seen on the outskirts of the city. A few days ago, they attacked the village of Natsinta which is not far from the Natsinta army barracks. also attacked the Dan Tsauni area on the road to Babbar Ruga where they killed several people and stole an unknown number of cows,” Kabir said.

Mr. Masanawa said he moved quarters from Shola to another area, but still did not feel safe.

"Because we could still hear gunshots in the area I moved to. Are we going to build houses just to avoid being kidnapped? What about those who don't have the means to build houses or even to rent?"

A radio journalist, Mukhtar Gazali, a resident of the metropolis, said the attackers were getting bold.

"When they attacked Shola Quarters the other time, no one in my house slept. The children cried until morning because we could hear the gunshots. It only means the terrorists are getting bold and it is a sign that this banditry is far from over,” he said.