Facts have emerged on how 44 vigilantes were ambushed by terrorists before they were eliminated while on distress call in Gidan Gamji Village, Danmaidaki Ward of Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State.
Locals in Gidan Gamji village reported the incidence of attack by the daredevil terrorists on the residence of one,
Muntari and rustled unspecified numbers of domestic animals.
After the report, the vigilantes were said to have mobilised and began to trail terrorists to Gidan Gambo Village in Kankara unknown that the criminals were laying ambush.
The ambush was made possible by informants in communities of bordering Bakori and Kankara Local Governments, according to a resident who spoke with journalists in Katsina.
The source further revealed that terrorists operated from the night of Wednesday till Thursday morning where cows and other domestic animals were rustled.
He explained that the vigilantes who were caught unaware engaged terrorists in gun battle before they were over powered.
He explained: “Sadly, the terrorists killed 44 of them (vigilantes) and injured many others who are currently receiving treatment at different hospitals in Bakori and Kankara. As we speak, we recovered 44 dead bodies so far and search parties, including soldiers and policemen are in the forest searching for more bodies.”
But the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Gambo Isah, while confirming the incident told journalists in a statement, said those killed were members of the outlawed Yansakai (volunteers) group from 11 villages in Bakori Local Government.
The statement said: “On Wednesday, 1/02/2023 at about 2200hrs, terrorists in their numbers, shooting sporadically with AK-47 rifles, attacked the house of one Alhaji Muntari, at Unguwar Audu Gare, Kandarawa, Bakori LGA, and rustled fifty (50) cows and thirty (30) sheep.
“Subsequently, on Thursday, 2/02/2023, at about 10:00hrs, Yansakai outlawed group, from eleven (11) villages from Bakori LGA, regrouped and went after the terrorists with a view to recovering the rustled domestic animals. They traced the footpath of the hoodlums to a location at Yargoje Forest.
“Unfortunately, the terrorists planned and launched a coordinated ambush on the Yansakai. The hoodlums shot and killed forty-one (41) Yansakai and wounded two (2).
“Area Commander, Malumfashi, led a team of Policemen to the scene and recovered the corpses and injured to Kankara General Hospital. A joint security operation is currently ongoing with a view to bringing the perpetrators to book. Investigation is ongoing, please”.
Meanwhile, Governor Aminu Bello Masari has directed for the inauguration of a panel of inquiry in order to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the incident to enable the government to take precautionary measures.
Masari’s Special Adviser on Security Matter, Mr. Ibrahim Ahmed Katsina, who disclosed this while briefing journalists on the incident, said the state government would also distribute relief materials to families of the victims.
He, however, explained that many terrorists were among those killed during the fierce gun duel battle between security personnel and the marauding terrorists, urging residents to remain calm.
