Over Fifty-Three People Who Consist Of 50 Vigilantes n Two Locals Were Reportedly Killed

About fifteen women were said to have been kidnapped during the onslaught on the Kankara bandits infested communities while no fewer than ten cows were also rustled in the process.

Over fifty-three people consisting of 50 vigilantes and two locals were reportedly killed in a clash with bandits while fighting over rustled cattle in Kankara community, Katsina State between yesterday Thursday, and early hours of today, Friday.

On the condition of anonymity a witness said the crisis started at about 7:00am on Thursday when some villagers in conjunction with vigilantes from Bakori axis traced the footprint of their missing cattle to ‘Gidan Gamji’, a Fulani settlement in Kankara LGA of the state said to be under bandits’ control, demanding that their cattle be returned to them. But the bandits denied having possession of them, asking them to check somewhere else.

“The confrontation eventually resulted into a gunfight in which many of the vigilantes along with the villagers were ambushed and killed by the terrorists.

“At least over 50 dead bodies have been recovered even as search is still ongoing in the bushes and farms with the view to recover more victims.”

Confirming the report, the Katsina Police Command in a statement issued by its spokesman, SP Gambo Isah however said that 41 people were killed in the clash:

He said:

‘The crisis started at about 10:00pm on Wednesday, 1 February 2023, when AK-47 yielding terrorists in their numbers attacked the house of one Alhaji Muntari, at Unguwar Audu Gare, Kandarawa, Bakori LGA, and rustled 50 cows and 30 sheep.

“Subsequently, on Thursday, 2 February 2023, at about 10:00am, ‘Yansakai’ the outlawed vigilante group, from 11 villages under Bakori LGA,  regrouped and went after the terrorists with a view to recover the rustled domestic animals. They traced the footpath of the hoodlums to a location at Yargoje Forest.