Bandits dressed in hijabs, also known as abayas, kidnapped 26 people, mostly women and children, in an attack on the Runka community in Safana Local Government Area, Katsina State.
Runka community is located just a few kilometres away from the notorious Rugu Forest, known for harbouring criminals over the years.
A local source informed reporters via a phone call on Monday that the hoodlums invaded the area around 10:00 p.m. on Saturday night, shooting sporadically throughout the community. The source claimed that the attack was fueled by the activities of informants within the community.
“The bandits didn’t kill anyone except for one person who was shot and injured while trying to escape. He is currently hospitalised,” the source said. “They abducted at least 25 people, including twelve of my relatives.”
The attack lasted for hours without any presence of security personnel until after the incident, when an armoured personnel carrier with some police officers was deployed to patrol the area.
“The bandits spread throughout the community, moving from house to house, breaking in and taking the occupants to the forest,” the source added. “During the attack, one of the bandits was overheard on the phone with an unknown informant, saying, ‘Today, we’ve come to your hometown.'”
Police authorities in Katsina State have yet to comment on the incident, as the command spokesman, Abubakar Sadiq, did not respond to inquiries from newsmen. However, the chairman of Safana Local Government Area, Abdullahi, reported that 22 people were abducted, though some have managed to escape.
“The DPO Safana has deployed his team alongside soldiers to the area, and they have already commenced a rescue operation,” Abdullahi stated.
