Bandits Kill One, Abduct 17 Women, Children in Katsina Community 

Francis Sardauna in Katsina 

No fewer than 17 women and children have been abducted by bandits in fresh onslaught on Burdugau community in Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State.

A resident of the community, Muhammed Adam, who confirmed the incident to THISDAY Monday, said the hoodlums invaded the agrarian community on Sunday at about 8:00pm.

He said the criminals killed one person and rustled hundreds of cattle, sheep and goats belonging to residents of the community during the attack.

Adam decried the resurgence of banditry in Malumfashi West, adding that 70 per cent of the people in Burdugau community have fled their ancestral home in fear of the criminals’ attack.

He said: “Yesterday (Sunday) these dreaded bandits invaded our community, Burdugau of Malumfashi LGA at around 8:00pm. They made away with hundreds of animals including goats, sheep, cows and kidnapped over 17 women, mainly married women, children and some few young ladies.

“They (bandits) also killed one person. Almost 70 per cent of our people have left their ancestral home so far in fear of bandits’ attack. And as I am talking to you now, no single security officer has been deployed to the area.

“The worst part of it is the fact that authorities concerned declined coming to our aid despite several communications with our LG Secretary, Ibrahim Aliyu Burdugau, on the need to communicate to security for quick response.”

He called on the state government and security agencies to urgently put proactive security measures in place in order to curtail the prevailing security challenges in the area.

However, efforts to speak with the state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Abubakar Aliyu, on the incident were futile as he didn’t respond to calls and a text message sent to his telephone line as of press time.