Protesters block major Katsina road over bandit attacks

Some aggrieved residents of Katsina communities on Wednesday blocked the Funtua-Gusau Road in the state over persistent bandits attacks and killing of innocent people in the area.

Many motorists and commuters were trapped in the protest.

“We are trapped here; I cannot tell the number of vehicles plying the road that are blocked by the protesters. As we speak with you, we can hear gunshots as police and military men are deployed to the area, but the protesters have blocked the road, burning tyres,” one of the road users told Daily Trust.

Bandits had reportedly attacked some communities around the area where they killed seven persons and abducted five women.

The incident was said to have taken place in Faskari local government of the state during an over night attack.

“In Kanon Haki village, five persons were killed by the bandits while two persons were killed in Unguwar Alhaji Ibrahim Maiwada,” a source said.

The villages were reportedly attacked around 9pm on Monday.

Deputy Speaker of the Katsina State House of Assembly, who is the member representing Faskari constituency, said there were about four bandits’ attacks in the area within a week.

The lawmaker said he raised a motion on matters of urgent public importance, where he prayed before the House, calling on government to scale up its measures against banditry in the state.

“The situation is dire and authorities must rise up to the occasion. We must protect lives and properties of the people who gave us their trust. It is disheartening to see them being killed all the time,” he said.

The police spokesman in Katsina, SP Gambo Isah, did not respond to calls and text message sent to him.