At least 17 villages in Faskari local government area of Katsina State have been attacked by bandits who killed some residents and abducted others.
The attacks have reportedly caused widespread fear among the villlagers, while several families have fled their homes over safety concerns.
In a situational report issued by the Faskari local government chapter of the Nigerian Human Rights Protection and Initiative, the attackers allegedly looted properties belonging to residents during the attack, which started last Friday.
The council coordinator of the group, Shamsudeen Sulaiman, said several domestic animals and livestock were carted away by the bandits.
He said, “17 villages have reportedly been attacked, which have resulted in the loss of lives and abductions.”
The group called for urgent and strengthened security measures to protect the residents and prevent further attacks.
It also appealed to security authorities to intensify efforts to secure the release of those abducted by the attackers.
In a phone conversation with LEADERSHIP, a government official who lives Faskari confirmed the attacks.
He described them as a retaliatory on innocent communities following an incident in which soldiers from Zamfara State seized some Fulani returning from a Wednesday market in Yankara community.
The official said the soldiers identified some of the seized Fulani as suspects in recent banditry attacks in Zamfara State. He said the soldiers traced them to the market and took them away.
However, the state police command is yet to make an official comment on the renewed attacks in Faskari LGA as at the time of filing this report.
