50 bodies recovered after Katsina mosque attack, search continues

50 bodies recovered after Katsina mosque attack, search continues

Survivors of Tuesday’s deadly attack by bandits on Gidan Mantau community in Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State have narrated their ordeal, saying after recovering over 50 bodies, they are still searching for more people in the bushes.

They, therefore, called on both the federal and Katsina State government to intervene to save them from further assaults.

For nearly three days, only skeletal information on the level of carnage was coming from the hard-to-reach Gidan Mantau, which had been infested by bandits and therefore inaccessible for government officials and rescue workers.

One of our reporters who managed to visit the village and surrounding communities, yesterday, reported that the people were under siege.

He said the road leading to the community was completely deserted as there were no security operatives on sight to repel further attack.

Survivors said it took several hours before officials of the Katsina State Government visited the area, and that they stopped by the main road to address the distraught locals and community leaders.

It was learnt that many families who did not see their loved ones among the dead are now combing the bushes with the support of acquaintances.

They said the death toll has climbed to 55, well above the 34 officially confirmed by authorities.

The villagers recalled that just a year ago, over 20 people were killed by bandits in a similar incident.

This comes as the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, yesterday expressed concern over renewed violence in Katsina and other parts of the North West.

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Speaking on Politics Today on Channels Television, General Musa said the military has intensified operations nationwide, but admitted that killings in the region, including the recent massacre of worshippers in Malumfashi, remain disturbing.

Daily Trust gathered that the terror group believed to have carried out this latest carnage is under the leadership of a notorious bandits’ kingpin, Mustapha Babaro, who is said to be carrying out his operations in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State and parts of Zamfara State.

It was gathered that after the attack on the mosque, the bandits went round the village, killing and abducting people.

The affected families who spoke to our reporters yesterday could not hold back tears as they recounted their ordeal during the dawn raid.

In total, 15 houses were set ablaze, ten people killed in the inferno, while over 100 women, children, the elderly, and even pregnant women were abducted.

“We have been crying for help, but nothing has been done. We reported the sighting of bandits early in the morning of that day, yet until the next day, no action was taken. Both the state and federal governments must sit up. Since the attack, you (Trust TV correspondents) are the first people to visit us. Please forward our complaints to the authorities.

“Generally speaking, we feel like we are not human beings. We have been abandoned. We lost everything, our loved ones were killed and others were abducted. Kindly tell the government to rescue us from the bandits,” a resident lamented.

For many people in Unguwar Mantau, life has become unbearable. They said they feel abandoned and forgotten and urged the government to rescue them and their loved ones from captivity and provide security.

There have been increased attacks in recent weeks, especially in the southern part of Katsina State, while some LGAs in the central part are enjoying relative peace courtesy of forced peace deals they entered into with the bandits.

50 bodies recovered after Katsina mosque attack, search continues

 

Daily Trust