Over 14 people, primarily children, were murdered and 19 others were injured after bandits attacked the Maulud Celebration Ground in Katsina State’s Rugar Kusa Community, Musawa Local Government Area.
The bandits took at least 20 residents to an unknown place during the raid, which looks to be retaliation and lasted more than an hour.
Residents reported that when the bandits arrived on Sunday night from the southern section of the celebration area, they began firing intermittently with sophisticated weapons to intimidate the residents.
Six people were slain in the Rugar Kusa community, two in Gidan Malamai, and six in Yar Unguwa in Musawa and Matazu LGAs.
Those injured are being treated at Musawa General Hospital and the Federal Teaching Hospital in Katsina.
According to an eyewitness, Abdulaziz Ibrahim, 60 children were attending the celebration when the bandits invaded the site, following which the hoodlums began visiting houses to abduct more innocent people, primarily women.
“One of the bandits first passed across the Maulud venue and called my name, after I answered him surprisingly, the next thing I heard was twin gunshots arising from different directions. I quickly fell down from my chair and crawled down towards the backyard.
“After the bandits surrounded the venue of the celebration, they fired gunshots at the participant, injuring many and abducting several others. After they eventually left the area, we found the corpses of our students lying down in flooding blood.
“We called for reinforcement from the police and other security forces but before they responded to the distress call, the hoodlums had left into the nearby forest which serves as their hideouts.
“We are happy that, the governor was here with us this morning for a sympathy visit where, he assured us that, banditry has come to an end in Katsina State,” he noted.
Residents also urged the state government and other security agencies to step up their efforts to combat bandits and their associates, claiming that security in the state had begun to improve.
A few hours after the disaster, Abdullahi Ahmed, a member of the Federal House of Assembly for Musawa/Matazu Constituency, visited the three communities to express his condolences to the inhabitants and relatives of the dead. He also offered money to the families.
He also paid a visit to Katsina’s Federal Teaching Hospital, where victims are being treated, and termed the incident as terrible. But he told them that he would take serious action against the criminals and would go to any length to defend the lives and property of the residents in the area.
One of the victims called the situation “terrible,” and urged the administration to keep its campaign pledges.
“The bandits also slaughtered some of the participants attending the celebration and told us that, this attack should serve as a lesson,” he added.
The Police Spokesman, Abubakar Aliyu, when contacted, also confirmed the incident. He said nine persons were shot dead and eighteen sustained gunshot injuries.
“Seven people were shot dead, and eighteen (18) people sustained gunshot injuries as a result of the attack and were evacuated to General Hospital Musawa for immediate medical attention.
“However, two (2) people out of the injured were confirmed dead by the doctor while receiving treatment. The investigation is still ongoing.
“Efforts are on with a view to arresting the perpetrators of the dastardly act. Further development will be communicated in due course,” he said.
