Bandits have killed 20 residents, four police officers, and two operatives of the state-owned Community Watch Corps in the Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State.

Confirming the incident on Monday, Katsina State Police Public Relations Officer ASP Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu disclosed that the victims were killed in attacks on Gidan Tofa and Dan Nakwabo villages in Kankara Local Government Area of the state on Sunday, June 9, 2024.

Sadiq-Aliyu noted: “On June 9, 2024, bandits in their numbers, armed with dangerous weapons, attacked the villages, shot and killed 20 people, injured two, and ambushed our Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) patrol team.

“The team was responding to the distress call, killing four police officers and two members of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps (KSCWC).

“The fact of the case is that on the same date, a distress call was received at the Kankara Divisional Headquarters.

“That bandits in their numbers, riding on motorcycles, armed with dangerous weapons, shooting sporadically, attacked Gidan Baki village, Kankara LGA, killing unsuspecting villagers.

Bandits kill 11 in Katsina

“Immediately, the nearest APC patrol team was dispatched to the scene. While en route to the village, the team discovered that the attack was actually on Gidan Boka village via Yar Goje village, all in Kankara.

“The team quickly redirected towards the scene. Upon reaching Kurmeji village via Yar goje, the team fell into an ambush, where a firefight ensued between the team and the bandits.”

He said upon the receipt of the information on the attack of the responding team, the DPO swiftly mobilised and led a team of operatives to the scene and restored normalcy.

The police spokesman stated that during a preliminary investigation, it was revealed that the bandits attacked Gidan Boka village, killing 15 people and injuring two others.

Sadiq-Aliyu added: “They also ambushed our patrol team and killed four police officers, three Inspectors and one Corporal and two members of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps (KSCWC).

“Also, the bandits, while escaping through Dan Nakwabo village, shot, and killed five persons. Further developments will be communicated as the investigation proceeds.”

He revealed that the command has deployed additional operational assets to the area to work with all the relevant stakeholders toward preventing the recurrence of the attacks and ensuring the arrest of the perpetrators.

The Star