Gunmen Murder 8 Traders In Katsina

Eight persons were butchered when a convoy of traders returning from the local market in Yantumaki town, Danmusa Local Government Area, Katsina State, was assaulted by gunmen who were believed to be robbers.

According to a reliable source, Kabiru Dangaye, the local drivers’ union head, the terrorists started fire on the traders on Friday as armed soldiers were accompanying them in a convoy of twenty-five vehicles.

He stated that while the injured were transferred to a hospital and given medical assistance, eight individuals died directly from the attack.

The chairman said, “Our drivers waited for hours as usual for other drivers and traders to come from neighbouring communities to begin the journey. We had about 25 vehicles then called the soldiers to come and escort us as usual and the soldiers drove in their vehicle.”

According to Dangaye, they formed a convoy in Mai Dabino, a village in the Danmusa area, and when they passed Sabon Garin Nasarawa and Mahuta, they encountered an ambush around the Makera area.

 “The terrorists were in four groups and it was when the leading vehicle reached the third group that the terrorists began the shooting. When the soldiers driving in the back, aimed to move faster to the front, another set of terrorists began shooting at them, but the soldiers engaged them and because of their numerical strength and widespread, the terrorists had the upper hand over the soldiers,” he said.

Mr. Dangaye continued, saying that the Community Watch Corps received a distress call and responded by sending more soldiers to assist the traders.

Although attempts to contact Abubakar Sadik, the state spokesperson for the police, at the time the story was filed were unsuccessful, the Katsina State police have not yet responded to inquiries regarding the attack.