No fewer than 41 members of a local vigilante group, popularly known as “Yansakai,” have been reportedly killed in Kastina State by terrorists.
It was learnt that the slain vigilantes were from 11 villages in Bakori local government of the state.
The vigilante groups were said to be on a mission to recover rustled cattle and sheep of one Alhaji Muntari.
Katsina Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Gambo Isah, who confirmed the incident in a statement on Friday, noted that the vigilante operatives had gathered themselves from the 11 local governments to go and recover 50 cows and 30 sheep stolen from the residence of one Alhaji Muntari at Unguwar Audu Gare, Kandarawa, Bakori Local Government by the terrorists last Wednesday.
According to the statement, even though the vigilante operatives were able to trace the path of the terrorists in the forest, they were ambushed by the criminals who shot 41 of them dead and injured two others.
He said, “On Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023 at about 22:00 hours, terrorists in their numbers, shooting sporadically with AK 47 rifles, attacked the house of one Alhaji Muntari at Unguwar Audu Gare, Kandarawa, Bakori Local Government, and rustled 50 cows and 30 sheep.
“Subsequently, on Feb. 2, at about 10:00 hours, Yansakai groups from 11 villages in Bakori local government regrouped and went after the terrorists with a view to recover the rustled animals.
“They traced the footpaths of the hoodlums to a location at Yargoje forest, unfortunately, the terrorists planned and launched a coordinated ambush on Yansakai.
“The hoodlums shot and killed 41 Yansakai and wounded two others,” he said.
Isah said that the Area Commander in Malumfashi, led a team of policemen to the scene and evacuated the corpses and injured persons to Kankara General Hospital.
The command spokesman said that a joint security operation was ongoing to arrest the culprits and bring them to book.