Terrorists have killed two persons and abducted more than 30 persons others in two communities of Batsari Local Council of Katsina State.
The incident of late Sunday night into the early hours of Monday morning took place in the Dan-Alhaji and Maidoriya communities.
According to sources, 25 persons, including women and children, were abducted at Dan-Alhaji community, while dozens sustained injuries.
In the Maidoriya community, the hoodlums slaughtered two persons and abducted seven others including six women and a married man, with a dozen others injured.
The incident comes less than a week after bandits kidnapped several people in the neighbouring Gaje community.
The council area is among several others facing incessant security challenges, brought about by nefarious activities of terrorists and rustlers.
Hundreds of lives have been lost since the security situation began more than a decade ago in the state, with thousands abducted for ransom, and hundreds of thousands of animals rustled.
A spokesperson for the state police command, ASP Abubakar Aliyu, did not respond to calls and messages put to his mobile line at press time.
In a similar development, troops of the Nigerian Army, yesterday morning, engaged in a fierce battle with bandits, led by Turji Bello.
The gun duel took place near Bakin Gulbi, close to Tungar Yakuba in Sokoto State.
Disclosing this, a counter-terrorism expert on the Lake Chad area, Zagazola Makama, said the clash also involved residents of Gatawa.
Makama said: “Intense fighting erupted early this morning, starting around 6:00 a.m., as residents of Gatawa and Nigerian soldiers engaged in a fierce battle with notorious bandit leader, Bello Turji, and his fighters.
“Further updates on the situation are expected as both sides continue their fight. Before the attack, Bello Turji held a clandestine meeting in the village of Dan Tasakko, near Gatawa, shortly after sunset yesterday.
“Local sources say the meeting involved key figures from his network, raising alarms about potential security threats in the area.” (Guardian)
