Over 100 persons have now been reported killed even as more people are said to still be missing in the last Thursday/Friday ‘clash between Yan Sakai’ vigilantes and terrorists’ at Yargoje Forest in Kankara LGA, Katsina State.
Nigeriacrime.com gathered that residents in the area disclosed this when a delegation of the state government headed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Muntari Lawal visited the area to condole with the families of the victims.
Abubakar Hashimu, a resident of neighbouring Guga Village was quoted to have said: “Even on Friday, 63 people were buried, and also on Saturday we saw another 30 dead bodies being in a canter truck even as more are still being anticipated.
“We are traumatized by the attack as many people have deserted the community since the incidence.”
Reacting to the development, the member representing Bakori/Danja Federal Constituency, Amiru Tukur recalled that, the terrorists numbering over 500 invaded no fewer than five communities during the attack.
According to Tukur, “there are a lot of informants and bandits collaborators residing within the communities.”
The Katsina SSG, Mr Muntari Lawal who led the state government delegation to Guga, Yargoje, Gidan Gamji communities on Sunday to condole with the people, described the situation as highly tragic for not only the victims and their families, but for all the good people of the state.
Muntari, however, reiterated the need for residents to learn how to defend themselves as the government and security agents alone cannot win the fight against the menace without their cooperation. The
According to the SSG:
“The actual number of those killed cannot be ascertained because they are still counting the dead, nobody can tell you the accurate figure because some of the bodies are scattered in the bush, they have to go and retrieve them.
“As we are counting the number, so also the bandits. So people should learn to be courageous enough to confront the daredevils before they finish them.
“Don’t wait for Government, before Government intervenes the damage has been done, so organize yourselves to confront them”, he added.
Among the state government delegation at the scene of the attack were: “the special advisers to the governor on Agriculture, Security Matters, Ibrahim Ahmad Katsina, Dr Abba Yakubu as well as the State Commissioner of Water Resources, Musa Adamu Funtua and that of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ya’u Umar Gwajo-gwajo among other top Government officials.
Recall that on Friday at least 52 persons consisting of 50 vigilantes and two locals were reportedly killed in a clash with bandits while fighting over rustled cattle in Kankara community, Katsina State.
Consequently, the Senior Special Adviser on Security Matters to Governor Aminu Masari, Alhaji Ibrahim Ahmad Katsina on Friday told journalists that a panel of inquiry will be constituted to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the killings.
He however said normalcy has since returned to the area as residents have started returning to the community.