In a disturbing escalation of banditry and kidnapping for ransom, at least three villages in Katsina State, located in the North-West region of Nigeria, have fallen victim to terrorist attacks.
According to reports, the Kurfi Local Government Area in the state bore the brunt of the violence, witnessing the sacking of three villages and the torching of a police station during a brazen banditry raid. Tragically, the raid resulted in the loss of five lives.
Residents of the affected villages, now displaced and seeking refuge in neighboring communities, took to the streets in a peaceful protest on Friday, demanding urgent action to restore security in their region.
Eyewitnesses recounted how gunmen descended upon Wurma village, unleashing a hail of gunfire and instilling fear as residents fled for safety, leaving behind their homes and belongings.
The situation underscores the growing threat posed by terrorist activities in the region, prompting calls for increased security measures to protect the lives and property of residents.
READ ALSO: Banks to Block 70 Million Accounts Over NIN Linkage
“They (bandits) attacked at about 6:30pm and killed five heads of households. They also carted away valuables, that’s why our people came out to protest,” a surviving resident narrated.
“As we speak our village has been sacked, no single human being lives there again. We have abandoned everything to stay alive,” another resident added.
Authorities have verified the incident, confirming that two additional villages within the Kurfi area, namely Lambo and Guda, have also fallen victim to the terrorists’ onslaught.
Nasir Babangida Ma’azu, the Commissioner for Homeland Security, acknowledged the escalating threat of attacks by terrorists in the region.
He said, “During the first raid the bandits went from house-to-house hunting for those to kidnap. On their second visit, they burnt down the police station, forcing the residents to run for their lives.”
