TheCable

At least six persons, including a village head, were reportedly killed following an attack by suspected gunmen on Daddara community in Jibia LGA of Katsina state. 

Speaking to TheCable on Thursday, Gambo Isah, police spokesperson, confirmed the attack, adding that it occurred around 11pm on Wednesday.

According to Isah, hundreds of suspected gunmen attacked the village with sophisticated weapons, ransacked shops and carted away food items.

He said the gunmen also attempted to kidnap members of the community but were prevented by security operatives.

“Yes, it is true. There was an attack yesterday at about 2300hrs. Bandits in their numbers, over 200 of them with AK-47 rifles, attacked Daddara village,” he said.

“In fact, according to the DPO, he stated that when the terrorists attacked the village, they ransacked everywhere, gathered all members of the village in one place, broke into shops and looted some food items.

“They were trying to kidnap the whole members of the village but luckily, the divisional police officer in conjunction with the military responded to the area and engaged the terrorists in a gun duel which lasted for almost two hours.

“They escaped into the forest and abandoned the members of the community that they intended to carry along with them into the forest.

“We discovered that they killed six members of that community. About five were injured and have been taken to the hospital.

“Right now, as I am talking to you, an attachment of the military and the police are still in Daddara trying to restore normalcy so that members of the community can return home.

“They could not kidnap anybody because of the arrival of the security operatives. In fact, even animals that they gathered, they could not carry them along because of the encounter.

“Among the people that were killed was one of the village heads of Yan Gayya that was found in the midst of the crowd. But Yan Gayya is quite different from Daddara, so we are still trying to find out actually what took him to Daddara village.”