Gunmen, on Tuesday night, seized 21 persons, consisting of a community chief, from two villages in Batsari council area of Katsina State. Sources in the area said 16 locals were abducted in Salihawar Dan-Ali, while five got kidnapped at Tashar Kadanya.

They clarified that the two settlements were invaded around 10:00p.m., with the operation lasting till the early hours of Wednesday.

In the Salihawar Dan-Ali attack, the bandits stole food, valuables, cows, sheep and goats and capped the exercise with the abduction of the community’s leader.

“At Tashar Kadanya village, the bandits entered a middle-aged man’s house, one Mansur Messi, and abducted his younger brother, Rabiu,” one of the sources said. He added: “The bandits also kidnapped Rabiu’s wife, and Messi’s sister, Shamsiyya. They also abducted two women, one Badiyya and Basira.

“They also went from house to house, stealing anything of value. They also went into the house of a middle-aged man where they couldn’t get any money.”

The Batsari incident makes it fourth major kidnapping in President Muhammadu Buhari’s home state in just this month alone.

Relatedly, hoodlums kidnapped a businessman in Mingibir town, some 34 kilometers away from Kano metropolis.

An eyewitness said the assailants invaded the residence of the victim at about 1:00a.m. yesterday, shooting sporadically into the air.

The source said the thugs, numbering 12, burgled the building and forcefully seized their target, whom our correspondent learnt is a popular dealer in electronics and electrical appliances at the Sabon Gari market in the ancient city.

During the operation, the kidnapper set a police van stationed in front of the captive’s home ablaze after reportedly overpowering the security men.

Efforts to reach the police for reaction were unsuccessful, as the phone calls and text messages to the force’s spokesperson, Abdullahi Haruna, were not responded to at press time.

Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, has said the services of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) would be fully engaged to tackle the prevailing insecurity in Katsina.

He also vowed that the Kankara abduction would not repeat itself. He spoke yesterday during a closed-door meeting with top officers, especially those in charge of tactical operations, as well as the police high command in the state.

Adamu, who came through the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport in the morning, addressed reporters at the command headquarters in the capital.

The visit witnessed the convergence of stakeholders, including Governor Aminu Masari’s Special Adviser on Security, Ibrahim Katsina and chairman of the state branch of MACBAN, Manir Atiku.

He said the essence of the meeting was to restrategise against criminals in the North West state.

“I came to Katsina today (yesterday) to see the officers and men in order to restrategise, and make sure that we make Katsina a crime-free state,” the IGP stated.

 

The Guardian