- 3 ABU students freed after kidnap on Kaduna-Abuja road
The Village Head of Wurma in Kurfi Local Government Area of Katsina State, Alhaji Mustapha Muhammed, yesterday narrated how heavily armed bandits in their hundreds attacked the community and abducted 49 people.
Speaking with journalists, Muhammed said “They [the bandits] came with guns. They didn’t kill anyone, but took 49 people with them.”
“Eleven were later released and I was just told of another one being released,” he added.
He said “We are calling on the governor of Katsina to help us with security personnel that can assist us, even if it is only with their presence to scare away these bandits.
“When they tried to attack, our neighbours from Tsakiya village used to alert us that an attack is imminent be it small or large. Even this one they informed us that the bandits were coming and in large numbers.”
Speaking further, the village head said he was sleeping when he began to hear sounds of gun shots. “Even my house was broken into, seven of them entered my room demanding that I give them money or they will kill me.
“I told them I had no money, they ransacked the room and carried what they wanted. Up till now I have not returned to the room to see the extent of what they did.
“Even my clothes were taken because I saw them carrying two of them, one of them drew the attention of the other. He asked him why he would carry such clothes which can lead to their arrest. He dropped them and left.”
He said “I had to leave for Dutsinma town where I passed the night and returned this morning entertaining sympathisers; my family members are now scattered with some in Katsina, Dutsinma and Rimi towns.”
Another resident Badamasi Wurma, whose wife and three children were abducted, said “I was with friends, six of us, around 11.30pm when we heard a gunshot fired at us. As we begin to rise the second was fired. We all ran for our lives.
“We did not see each other until the next day,” he said, adding that the bandits were over 300.
“They entered my house which was yet to be locked as I was still outside, they met my family, carted away whatever type of property they needed and took my wife away. They broke into my room and carried several valuables,” he said.
He said those abducted were over 45 people “but some have returned. One of my daughters was among those that returned. Between eight and 10 children were released as at now, one married and the rest children,” he said.
“Our wives and children are still with them as I’m talking to you; we don’t know what will happen later. The bandits were attacking house to house, between five and six bandits moving between the houses after they had cordoned off the whole village, there is virtually no house that wasn’t ransacked,” he added.
When contacted the spokesman of the state police command ASP Anas Gezawa said “at about 0015hrs, unknown gunmen in large numbers invaded Wurma village of Kurfi LGA and abducted 15 women including the daughter and daughter in-law of the village head Mustapha Mohammed.
“Hours later, police were able to rescue 10 of the abducted and have since reunited them with their families as efforts ongoing to rescue the rest.”
“The bandits also carted away unspecified number of cattle, the DPO led a patrol team of policemen to the scene but the hoodlums had already escaped. Efforts are on to arrest the culprits,” he added.
Daily Trust learnt that an enlarged security stakeholders’ meeting will be chaired by Governor Aminu Masari today in Katsina as part of efforts to address the insecurity in parts of the state.
