Police Responds To Report That Bandits Are Holding 5 Villages

The Katsina State Police Command has reacted to report that armed bandits are holding villagers hostage and hoisting their flags in five villages in Faskari Local government area of the state describing it as false.

Vanguard reports that Gambo Isah who is the police spokesperson debunked the report on Wednesday, January 30.

An online report (not legit.ng) had claimed that “bandits have hoisted their flags in five villages in faskari local government area of Katsina State.”

The reports also claimed the vbillages under hostage were: Unguwar Tsamiya, Birnin Kogo, Raba, Zuru and Unguwar Doka.

The police urged the people to go about their normal duties and ignore the rumour

Meanwhile, troops of Operation Sharan Daji (OPSD) conducting operations in Zamfara and Katsina states have killed 21 bandits and captured 17 alive between January 22 and 29, Daily Trust reports.

Legit.ng gathered that eleven civilians and one vigilante were also said to have been killed by bandits.

The acting Force information officer Operation Sharan Daji, Major Clement Abiade, on Tuesday, January 29, while giving an update on OPSD’s activities within the period, said that the troops also destroyed bandits’ camps and rescued 89 kidnapped victims.

He added that two bandits’ informants, Musa Amadu and Auwalu Mutairu, were arrested at Danfumi village in Birnin Magaji and that they were currently assisting troops with intelligence.

He stated: “On 22 January 2019, troops on clearance operation in Gando Forest came into contact with a large gang of bandits armed with sophisticated firearms and Rocket Propelled Grenades leading to fierce gun battles which lasted several hours. The bandits were forced to abandon their camps due to superior firepower during these encounters.

“Troops also made contact with bandits operating in Shinkafi, Birnin Magaji and some isolated villages in Maru LGA of Zamfara state. Furthermore, troops of OPSD operating in Katsina state made contact with bandits at different locations around Safana, Runka, Kukan Sama between 25 – 28 January 2019.