Members of Kadisau community in Faskari local government area of Katsina lost over 40 relatives in a brutal attack by terrorists on Tuesday evening.
The people slept with eyes open after terrorists spent hours shooting and killing the local civilians including elderly, women and children in their community.
At about 5 pm, the terrorists invaded the community with over 100 motorcycles.
They also destroyed properties and rustled over 400 cattle and other livestock. Our sources indicated that the group started with setting houses and shops ablaze chanting, “you have no place to hide today.”
Kadisau community is 5km away from a major town in Katsina; Daudawa lies on a highway.
So far, 43 people from Kadisau, one from Unguwar Kosau, one from Hayin Mallam and three from Duskuru have been confirmed dead.
The terrorists operated till about 9 pm. According to residents, all efforts to communicate and get security agents proved abortive.
They told journalists that the three military Hilux (vans) arrived after the attack ended and the local vigilante from Daudawa had to mobilize other communities around to rescue the people.
According to a resident AbdulRazaq Yahaya, “the bandits came around 5 pm and did not leave until 9 pm.” He confirmed that security agents arrived after the attack.
Another resident, Halliru said, “it is a five minutes’ drive to Dandume and less than 10 minutes to Faskari but police left us in their hand suffering.
“They killed so many people including my two younger brothers. As at this morning, I have counted 42 corpses and some till now, we could not find their corpses.”
He further lamented that they rustled more than 300 cattle, burnt seven shops including his shop, took away mobile phones, destroyed food items and stores for agricultural products.
We gathered that the community believes that the government is responsible for their situation.
Residents explained that this belief is because whenever such attackers send signals, they will report to their traditional leaders and nothing has been done.
They added that the current armed groups that attacked the community are entirely different from the previous bandits attacking the neighbouring communities of Faskari and Dandume LGA.
A resident, Aminu said, “we have no means of direct communication with the securities although our community leader is doing his best by reporting the issues to the security agencies, but they are usually not present until the bandits are done with their operation.”
A Police officer, who spoke with the HumAngle on the condition of anonymity, said “we sighted over 500 of them around 3 pm passing through Dandume axis heading to Faskari but we are not well equipped to stop them and they have sophisticated ammunition in their possession.
“As for me, that group is completely fleeing terrorist groups either from Northeast Nigeria or the Republic of Niger.”
Speaking on the issue, Abdullahi Faskari, a legal practitioner and security observer in Faskari said, “I do not see government and security agencies exhibiting any seriousness in fighting these bandits.
“This is because if they (bandits) can travel from a distance to come and commit these atrocities for hours and leave unchallenged, then where is the commitment?” he asked.
Salisu Funtua, who came to the community to sympathize with them, also shared his concerns.
He said, “today, no one is safe in such areas. We woke up today and received refugees in our neighbouring houses believed to be from Jiruwa.
“They told us that no one remained in their community, they all ran away and left their properties. Consequently, see what happened in Sabuwa local government a day before this attack.
“They wiped more than 10 villages at different times but no single security personnel came at that moment.
“This attack was exactly like that of Sabuwa. If government and security agencies are active, how come these bandits are coming in hundreds and going about their businesses freely?” Funtua said.
Theanalyst reports that the burial of the dead was slated for 10 am on Wednesday.
The military deployed two military vehicles and a chopper at the burial ground where the people were burying the victims
The community has previously resisted similar attacks by armed groups. However, the attack was successful on Tuesday evening because the groups took advantage of the timing when most local vigilantes were on the farm or football fields.
Recall that people are fleeing the community to Funtua Local Government and other safest neighbouring communities.
One of the community members said, “there is nothing the government and security agencies will tell us now, this is not the first time they are telling us not to panic.
“Yet, nothing has been done to secure our lives and properties. People lack total confidence in the government and their deception is not a new story,” he lamented.
