Police in Katsina State has debunked reports making the rounds that 17 suspected hunters were killed while 25 others were abducted in one of the forests of the Jibiya Area Council of the state.
The reaction of the police is as a result of reports being circulated on the social media that the incident occurred on Wednesday night.
According to the report, the hunters were on a hunting expedition around Tsayau forest in Jibia Local Government Area when the bandits launched attack.
The report added that the hunters were from different parts of Katsina including, Tsagero, Abukur, Kanyar Uban Dana, Mashi, Fadi Gurje, Kutare, Dandagoro, Muduru as well as other villages around the Jibia area.
The report further stated the bandits are demanding N50m ransom for the release of the 25 abducted hunters.
Police spokesman Gambo Isah, in a telephone conversation with ait.live, said the story is not true and asked “Where are the corpses. Who saw the victims or even an eye witness. We want to see any if you can assist us to, please”.
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He added that the command has gone the extra mile with the Divisional Police Officer of Jibia, some elders of the area, and the Chairman Hunters Association in Katsina, Surajo Maiasharalle, but can not get the true picture of the incident.
(Editor: Abaje Usekwe)