The police command in Katsina State has confirmed the killing of about 20 people, four police officers and two operatives of the state-owned Community Watch Corps by some suspected bandits.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu, made the disclosure in a statement in Katsina on Monday.

According to him, the attack occurred on Sunday at Gidan Tofa and Dan Nakwabo villages in the Kankara Local Government Area of the state.

He said, “On June 9, 2024, bandits in their numbers, armed with dangerous weapons, attacked the villages, shot and killed 20 people, injured two, and ambushed our armoured personnel carrier patrol team. The team was responding to the distress call, killing four police officers and two members of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps. The fact of the case is that on the same date, a distress call was received at the Kankara Divisional Headquarters.

”That bandits in their numbers, riding on motorcycles, armed with dangerous weapons, shooting indiscriminately, attacked Gidan Baki village, Kankara LGA, killing unsuspecting villagers.

 “Immediately, the nearest APC patrol team was dispatched to the scene. While en route to the village, the team discovered that the attack was actually on Gidan Boka village via Yar Goje village, all in Kankara. The team quickly redirected towards the scene. Upon reaching Kurmeji village via Yar goje, the team fell into an ambush, where a gun duel ensued between the team and the bandits.

According to him, upon receipt of the information on the attack of the responding team, swiftly the DPO mobilised and led a team of operatives to the scene and restored normalcy.

He noted that during preliminary investigation, it was discovered that the bandits attacked Gidan Boka village, killing 15 people and injuring two others.

He stated, “They also ambushed our patrol team and killed four police officers, three inspectors and one corporal and two members of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps. Also, the bandits, while escaping through Dan Nakwabo village, shot and killed five persons. Further developments will be communicated as the investigation proceeds.’’

He added that the command deployed additional operational assets to the area to work with the relevant stakeholders towards preventing the recurrence of the attacks and ensuring the arrest of the perpetrators.

The state police spokesperson said that the commissioner of police, while expressing dismay over the incident, extended condolences to the families and friends of those affected by the incident.

(NAN)