…As herders kill 7persons in Benue
By Faith Awa Maji, Katsina
The Katsina State Police Command has confirmed the abductions and subsequent rescue of some kidnapped passengers from the hands of terrorists hours after.
The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Abubakar Sadiq, said the command, Military and Katsina Watch Corps have rescued 14 kidnapped victims after a gun battle with the terrorists.
“Today, Thursday, March 21, 2024, at about 1330 hrs, some suspected armed bandits armed with dangerous weapons such as AK-47 rifles attacked a KTSTA bus driven by one Dabo Filalawa, m., of Filin Polo quarters, Katsina State, at Gidan Kifi village via Kankara to Marabar Kankara road, enroute Funtua from Katsina, and kidnapped eight (8) passengers.
“Upon receipt of the report, a joint team of Police operatives attached to Kankara Divisional Police Headquarters, Military, and members of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps, swiftly mobilsed and responded to the scene where they engaged the hoodlums in a fierce gun duel and successfully 14 kidnapped victims.
“Aggressive efforts are currently being made to ensure the unhurt rescue of the remaining four kidnapped victims. Further development will be communicated in due time, please”, the PPRO said.
Terrorists in their renewed attack have on Thursday kidnapped a driver and all the passengers in an 18-seater commercial bus belonging to the Katsina State Transport Authority, KSTA.
Meanwhile, fewer than seven persons have been reportedly killed by armed herdsmen in Yongia Ukambie Tiev, Ukembergya/Tswarev Ward of Logo Local Government Area of Benue State.
The incident, according to a community leader in the area, Chief Joseph Anawa, took place between Tuesday and Wednesday this week.
According to Anawa, “they came in droves of over 500. They came in the evening on Tuesday and the attack lasted till 8:00pm and on Wednesday, they resumed again.
“They came purposely to attack our people and all of them were fully armed.”
The Caretaker Chairman of the Local Government Council, Rev Adagbe Jonathan, confirmed the killing of seven by armed herdsmen on phone.
“It was carried by the Fulani herdsmen. Even when I went there, they were still grazing on the other side of the road, claiming that was Taraba state.
“No one could just approach them. I’m even now in Makurdi, I reported to the Special Adviser on Internal Affairs, Security, LG Bureau Special Adviser and to the DS, Permanent Secretary on Bureau of Internal services.”
