The Police have confirmed the killing of no fewer than 20 people including four of their personnel and two operatives of the state-owned Community Watch Corps by terrorists.
In a statement by State Command spokesperson, Assistant Superintendent, ASP Abubakar-Sadiq Aliyu, the attack occurred on Sunday, at Gidan Tofa and Dan Nakwabo villages, all in Kankara Local Government Area of the state.
The police spokesperson added that the four policemen killed were three Inspectors and one Corporal with two members of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps, KSCWC.
According to him, terrorists in their numbers, armed with dangerous weapons, attacked the villages, shot and killed 20 people, injured two, and ambushed the police operational Armored Personnel Carrier, APC patrol team.
He added that the team was responding to distress call, when four policemen and two members of the Community Watch Corps were killed.
Aliyu said, that on the same date, a distress call was received at the Kankara Divisional Headquarters that terrorists in their numbers, riding on motorcycles, armed with dangerous weapons, shooting sporadically, attacked Gidan Baki village, Kankara LGA, killing unsuspecting villagers.
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Immediately, the nearest APC patrol team was dispatched to the scene and while en route to the village, the team discovered that the attack was actually on Gidan Boka village via Yar Goje village, all in Kankara LGA.
The team quickly redirected towards the scene and upon reaching Kurmeji village via Yar goje, the team fell into an ambush, where a firefight ensued between the team and the terrorists.
According to him, upon receipt of the information on the attack of the responding team, swiftly the DPO mobilised and led a team of operatives to the scene and restored normalcy.
He explained that during a preliminary investigation, it was revealed that the terrorists attacked Gidan Boka village, killing 15 people and injuring two others.
Also, the bandits, while escaping through Dan Nakwabo village, shot and killed five persons. Further developments will be communicated as the investigation proceeds.
He revealed that the Command has deployed additional operational assets to the area to work with all the relevant stakeholders towards preventing the recurrence of the attacks and ensuring the arrest of the perpetrators.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Aliyu Musa, while expressing his utter dismay over the tragic incident, extended his condolences to the families and friends of those affected by the incident.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
