Another Traditional Ruler Abducted In Katsina

Gunmen resumed their reign of terror in Batsari local government area of Katsina State on Tuesday afternoon where they abducted the village head of Labo community after a shooting spree. The victim was simply identified as Mallam Labo by residents. The attack, which came about 42 days after the whereabouts of Magajin Daura, Alhaji Umar Uba, remained unknown, was allegedly carried out by several well-armed bandits. Magaji Daura was abducted over a month in President Muhammadu Buhari’s hometown of Daura.

Nationnews gathered that in the Tuesday’s attack, virtually all the animals in Labo community were rustled by the bandits, who also dispossessed the villagers of their cash and other valuables. Sources said that the abduction of the village head in his farm on the outskirts of Labo threw the community into confusion as people fled the area for safety in view of the activities of gunmen that had been causing them sleepless nights in the past few months.

A resident said that, “the attack was so serious that we had to run into the bush to escape being killed by the bandits.” The Katsina State Police Command spokesman, SP Isah Gambo, who confirmed the incident, said that “efforts are on course to rescue him from these rascals. Operation Puff Adder responded to the distress call but since it (abduction of the village head) was in his farmland near the Rugu forest, before they could reach the scene, the hoodlums had fled into the forest.” Gambo advised members of the affected communities to always go in groups to their farms and to inform security agencies for necessary back up. He reminded them that the state government had suspended farming activities around the forest.