Bandits kill 5 police operative, 3 others in Katsina

Bandits have killed five mobile policemen and three civilians at Gatikawa community in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The mobile policemen were said to be on special duty from Kano.

Sources said the incident occurred at about 5:30pm on Wednesday when over 300 gunmen stormed the community and started shooting to scare residents.

One of the sources said the gunmen rode on motorcycles and went from house to house carting away anything of value, including money and food items.

He said that several residents were also injured especially those trying to escape from the gunmen.

He said the community had been apprehensive following the attack and that some residents had since relocated to neighbouring communities for fear of another attack.

This is the second time this month that police officers have been killed by bandits.

On July 5, gunmen killed a senior police officer in charge of the Dutsinma Council Area, Assistant Commissioner of Police Aminu Umar, alongside one other police officer and several civilians.

Spokesperson for the police in the state, SP Gambo Isah, confirmed the killing in a response to our correspondent.

Isah, simply wrote, “True, five PMF from Kano on special duty at Kankara and three villagers of Gatakawa.”

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Katsina State Command, CP Idrisu Dabban Dauda, has presented cheques of N14.6m to families and next of kin of deceased police officers who died while in active service, on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Alkali Baba Usman.

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