Abduct eight Islamic school pupils, teacher
Gunmen, suspected to be bandits, yesterday ambushed and killed two Niger Republic military officers in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State.
The incident allegedly occurred late Tuesday night, when the gunmen crossed over from Jibia into Niger Republic, to rustle cattle.
The military operatives, when alerted to the incident, went after the gunmen into Jibia in the hope of recovering the stolen animals.`
Unfortunately, the gunmen ambushed them, leading to the death of two of the military personnel.
The gunmen also set ablaze a vehicle belonging to the military operatives, and went away with another.
Lawmaker representing the council in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Mustapha Yusuf confirmed the incident.
According to Yusuf, the gunmen “went into Niger Republic and rustled cows, and the security operatives there went after them with the intention of recovering the stolen animals.
“But they were ambushed by the gunmen and two military personnel lost their lives in the process.The bandits also went away with one of the military vehicles.
“The security situation is far more than what the Niger Republic military had thought it was. They reckoned it was something they could deal with.”
It was gathered that a reinforcement of military operatives were deployed from French speaking nations Tuesday night, to battle the bandits.
SIMILARLY, bandits have abducted eight pupils of an Islamic school at Sakkai community in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State.
They also abducted a teacher of the school, and whisked them away to a dreaded forest in the area.
The victims were abducted Tuesday evening while conducting an evening lesson on the school premises.
As of time of this report, victims’ family members were yet to be contacted by their abductors.
Like several councils in the state located close to expanse of forest reserve, Faskari has, for years, been bedeviled by security challenges.
The challenges were brought about by activities of bandits, rustlers and kidnappers who attack hapless communities to perpetrate their nefarious activities.
Hundreds of people have lost their lives due to the security situation in the council, with hundreds more abducted for ransom.
When contacted, spokesperson for the police command in the state, SP Gambo Isah, said the command had yet to be informed about the incidents.
Credit: The Guardian