Worsening insecurity worries Nigerians, as gunmen kill, abduct Katsina residents in fresh attack

Abimbola Abatta

Nigerians have decried the spate of insecurity in the country as bandits, on Sunday morning, attacked Shola Quarters in Katsina metropolis barely two months after terrorists invaded the same community.

The gunmen, it was gathered, killed two vigilante members and abducted several residents of Shola Quarters while some were injured in the attack that lasted for over an hour.

Nigerian NewsDirect reports that some of the kidnapped victims include a newly married couple.

A resident of the area who confirmed the incident said the injured have been rushed to the neighbouring Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina for medical attention.

According to a source who spoke on the condition of anonymity, “It was the vigilante members that even stood against them but they (bandits) killed two of them and wounded the other two. The vigilante members had to retreat to their houses when the bandits overpowered them and it was just now (morning) that we retrieved the two corpses and took the wounded ones to the hospital.”

When contacted, the police spokesperson in the state, Gambo Isa, said, “Our officers are on operations and will communicate with details in due course on the operation.”

Meanwhile, in the earlier attack on June 14, six persons were abducted in the same community by terrorists riding on motorcycles at about 2:00 am.

Following the recent attack, some Nigerians took to social media to express their concerns regarding the growing insecurity.

@Komrade_Konrade said “The supposed President of Nigeria is supposedly from Daura in Katsina which is a little over 100km away from where this happened. Well, he’ll issue threats and maybe summon service chiefs later.”

@mohrazz, who tagged the Nigerian Police’s Twitter handle said, “I think you are overrelaxing in Katsina on this issue of bandits sneaking into Shola Quarters directly behind FMC most time unchallenged. This might make bolder and attack the hospital knowing well they are animals. Please do something.”

For @drabdulusy1, “This is the daily happenings in katsina within this week alone 3 attacks occurred in the Metroplolis. First one was innoncent farmers in Dan tsauni just behind Ring road was attacked in broad day light and some where killed some injured second one is the one in Natsinta which is just Behind Army Barrack they operated for hours and the 35 Battalion is less than a KM away and now this and people are still saying there is government in this country. Where? May Allah come to our Aid and help this country. Ameen.”

Sharing her concerns on the incident, @blessedamao said, “How did these terrorists enter the country? How do they bring in arms in large quantities? How do they move millions of dollars around the country? How do they move around the country with large weapons? Buhari has a lot of questions to answer.”