In a brazen attack on Saturday night, bandits dressed in Hijab attire known as Abaya stormed the Runka community in Safana Local Government Area, Katsina State, kidnapping at least 25 individuals, predominantly women and children.
The community, located near the notorious Rugu Forest, has been left reeling from the assault.
According to a local source who spoke with Channels Television, the attackers arrived around 10:00 p.m., unleashing terror by firing indiscriminately across the area.
The assailants, believed to have local informants among residents, conducted their raid unchecked for hours.
“The bandits killed nobody in the community except one person who was shot and injured after attempting to flee,” the source disclosed.
“Currently, he is receiving treatment in the hospital.”
The harrowing ordeal saw the bandits systematically invade homes, breaking in and abducting occupants before retreating into the nearby forest.
Reports indicate that 25 people were taken captive, including a dozen from the source’s own relatives.
“There was a complete absence of security personnel during the attack,” lamented the source.
“It was only after the incident that police personnel, accompanied by an armored carrier, were dispatched to patrol the area.”
Details emerging from the scene painted a picture of chaos and fear, with bandits reportedly communicating with informants via phone during the raid.
The lack of immediate intervention from security forces has sparked outrage and concern among locals.
Authorities have since initiated a response, with the Chairman of Safana Local Government Area, Abdullahi, confirming ongoing efforts to rescue those abducted. He reported that while 22 individuals remain in captivity, some have managed to escape.
Efforts to obtain a statement from Katsina State Police Command’s spokesperson, Abubakar Sadiq, have been unsuccessful thus far. However, local officials assured the deployment of security forces, including soldiers, in a bid to secure the community and facilitate the safe return of the abducted individuals.
The incident underscores the persistent threat posed by banditry in the region, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced security measures to safeguard vulnerable communities from such heinous acts.