Armed criminals suspected to be terror bandits on Thursday night, abducted 13 travellers along the Ni’asu-Dantankari road in Katsina State after ambushing vehicles and opening fire indiscriminately.
The unfortunate incident was confirmed by banditry crisis analyst, Mr. Bakatsine via his official X handle on Friday.
He said, “Alert: Last night, bandits blocked the Ni’asu-Dantankari road, opened fire on vehicles, and abducted 13 people.
“However, a joint team of the Nigerian Army, Civilian Joint Task Force (CWC), and local vigilante groups pursued the attackers, engaging them in a fierce gun battle and successfully rescuing 10 of the victims.
“The remaining three abductees are still unaccounted for, as efforts continue to locate and secure their release.”
Bakatsine also raised concerns that the recent peace deal brokered between bandits and the Kaduna State government might be fueling increased attacks in neighbouring Katsina State.
“Sincerely speaking, the peace deal in Kaduna State has led to an increase in attacks in Katsina South Senatorial District, which shares a border with Kaduna State,” he noted.
Katsina State has seen a worrying surge in bandit-related violence in recent weeks. On the same day, the former Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig. Gen. Maharazu Tsiga (retd.), was abducted in an attack in his hometown of Tsiga village, Bakori Local Government Area.