Bandits invade two Katsina villages, kill 30, burn houses, animals

Suspected bandits on Friday evening killed no fewer than thirty people in Tsauwa and Dankar villages in Batsari Local Government Area of Katsina State.

At Tsauwa where twenty-one people were killed, efforts were still being made on Saturday evening to bury some of the victims.

Majority of the victims in the village were old people and children.

The bandits also burnt down houses, animals, and foodstuffs.

The District Head of Batsari who is also Sarki Ruma, Alhaji Tukur Muaazu, described the incident as horrible.

He said, “I have never seen this type of destruction in my life. The bandits arrived here (Tsauwa) about 7 pm on Friday when residents were about observing Magrib. Some were also preparing to sleep. The bandits laid siege to the village, killing and destroying anything they sighted.

“I appeal to Governor Aminu Masari to come to the aid of the victims. I will also plead that security in the community should be strengthened. ”

The Katsina State Police Commissioner, Sanusi Buba, was also at the two communities for an on- the- spot assessment on Saturday.

He confirmed that thirty people were killed by the bandits.

The police chief said, “I still find it surprising that whatever could have been the motive, these people ( suspected bandits) could still carry out these dastardly acts. We are, however, after them.”

“Twenty-one people were killed in Tsauwa while nine were killed in Dankar.”

Security personnel including police and the army as well as local vigilantes had taken up positions in the two villages by Saturday evening. Punch