Tension as Zamfara-based terrorists relocate to Katsina

Hundreds of terrorists led by a notorious bandit, an-arami, have reportedly relocated from Zamfara to areas between Safana and Batsari local government areas of Katsina State. Villagers said the terrorists were escaping from military onslaught in Zamfara.

They were said to have moved into Tsaskiya, Runka, Gora, Labo and other communities in the two local government areas.

Villagers said the terrorists have teamed up with another notorious bandit, Usman MoiMoi, who has been terrorising them.

The villagers said the terrorists in large numbers moved to the area with herds of cattle.

“About a thousand of them who came on about 300 motorcycles spent Saturday night in Labo village,” a reliable source told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He added that the terrorists were spread in at least five villages on the fringes of Rugu forest between Safana and Batsari as well as part of Zamfara.

The source, however, said what was not clear was whether the bandits were on transit or setting up a new base in the area.

The villagers appealed to the military and Katsina State Government to respond promptly and deny the terrorists any space to operate.

Dankarami and his gang were known for raiding villages and towns in Zamfara and attacking security personnel.

A community

leader told NAN on condition of anonymity that some of the villagers have started relocating to avoid being caught up in the impending disaster.

He urged the military to deploy its land and air assets to decimate the terrorists before they wreck more havoc.

A resident of Runka also urged government and security agencies to hasten measures to prevent the terrorists from taking over the area.

When contacted, Ibrahim Ahmad-Katsina, Special Adviser on Security to Gov. Aminu Masari said only the security forces could comment on the matter.

However, the Spokeman of the Police Command in the state, CSP Gambo Isah, said they were verifying the information.