Terrorists in military uniform abduct 30 persons in Katsina
• Bandits kill one, abduct 16 in Niger • Benue LG boss still in captivity 10 days after kidnap
TERRORISTS wearing military uniforms have reportedly abducted at least 30 persons, after attacking Tashar Nagulle Village in Batsari Local Council of Katsina State.
The terrorists, according to sources, struck about 8.00pm on Sunday, when most of the residents were preparing to retire to bed. They reportedly stormed the community in their numbers, armed with sophisticated weapons.
On arrival, a source told The Guardian, the terrorists fired several shots into the air, probably to announce their presence, then went after people that ran out of their homes, ostensibly to hide in nearby farmlands and bushes.
“The terrorists left their motorcycles some few metres from the village and came on foot. They went from house to house, dragging people out.
“When residents began to flee, the terrorists went after them, urging them to stop running, saying that they were military personnel who came to help them secure the area. Gullible residents and others that were dragged out of their homes were rounded up and moved to where they had parked their motorcycles,” he said.
The over 30 captives included married women and single girls, he said, adding: “One of the abducted persons, who managed to escape to the village, overheard the terrorists count 31 persons, and all the victims were taken away into the forest on the motorcycles.”
The incident followed last Thursday’s incident at Saki Jiki Village in Batsari Local Council, in which hijab- wearing terrorists attacked a security post, killed a policeman and injured another.
Batsari is among the councils facing insecurity in the state. At press time, Police Public Relations Officer ( PPRO) in the state, ASP Abubakar Aliyu, had yet to respond to inquiry on the incident.
ALSO, armed bandits have killed one person and abducted 16 others in Dangunu community, Munya Local Council of Niger State.
A local revealed under anonymity that the bandits attacked the community using a local canoe through a river between Chigun village and the community.
The Guardian gathered that a man identified as Adamu was killed, while 16 members of his family were abducted.
At press time, the Police Public Relations Officer ( PPRO), Niger State, Wasiu Abiodun, could be reached for comment.
MEANWHILE, the chairman of Ukum Local Council of Benue State, Rev Gideon Haanongun, has spent 10 days in captivity since his abduction on January 13.
Abduction of the council boss came three months after a former chairman of the council, Iorwashima Erukaa, was whisked away by gun men. Erukaa did not make it back alive, as he died in the custody of his abductors and his body was exhumed from the shallow grave it was buried in and brought back to his home for proper interment.