By Gabriel Atumeyi
365Daily – Twelve persons were confirmed to have been killed when bandits stormed Duba village, Batsari Local Government Area of Katsina State, on Saturday night.
It was gathered that the bandits numbering over 300, armed with sophisticated weapons stormed the community at 10.45 p.m.
According to sources, they ransacked and looted houses and shops in the community, dispossessing people of personal belongings, including foodstuff and money.
Residents claimed that the bandits killed 20 persons and injured many others.
The residents further disclosed that those killed were buried on Sunday according to Islamic rites.
The spokesman for the Katsina police command, SP Gambo Isah, however, insisted that the bandits killed 12 people and injured six others.
He said, “The bandits, numbering over 300 and armed with sophisticated weapons including GMP machine guns and Anti Aircraft launchers stormed the village (Duba) at 20.45 on Saturday. They ransacked houses and looted shops.
“They also killed twelve people and injured six others. The joint team of the police and the Military advanced to the village but the bandits had retreated to the forest by the time they arrived there. The team is still combing the forest with a view to finding the hoodlums.”
Katsina has been the epicenter of dreaded bandits attacks, with farmers, traditional rulers and students bein killed, maimed or kidnapped for ransom.