No fewer than six traders lost their lives on Friday when their convoy of vehicles ran into bandits in Danmusa Local Government Area of Katsina State.
The traders were travelling from Maidabino village to participate in a weekly market located at Yantumaki.
The two villages are within Danmusa Local Government Area.
Residents revealed that the traders always travel in convoys because of the security situation in the council.
It was further learnt that the convoy of vehicles carrying the traders ran into the bandits shortly before Yantumaki.
Residents added that the bandits suddenly appeared from a forest and started firing at the vehicles.
One of the residents, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “It was early in the morning and the traders were close to Yantumaki when the bandits appeared from a forest and occupied the highway.
“The bandits were just shooting at the convoy of the vehicles. By the time, the security operatives including the troops and the police moved to the scene, six traders had been killed.
“We are yet to know whether the bandits abducted any of the traders.”
When contacted, the spokesman for the Katsina State Police Command, ASP Abubakar Aliyu, confirmed the incident, adding that he was yet to get details.
“The incident occurred but I don’t have details yet, you can call me back later for details,” he said.
PUNCH Online reported that the state is one of the affected northern states with a history of gunmen attacks and citizen protesting attacks.
In October 2023, in the same Danmusa LGA, five persons were killed five, while no fewer than twelve others were left injured. Five residents were also abducted during the attack.
In December 2023, the state governor, Dikko Radda, in collaboration with a joint security team, successfully foiled a terrorist attack on the Zakka community in Safana Local Government Area.
