How Police, Customs, terrorists set Katsina, Niger on fire

• About 15 killed, many injured, others kidnapped
• Theatre commander tasks troops on professionalism

Four suspected terrorists lost their lives during a shootout with the police, at the weekend, in Katsina State.

The police reportedly recovered about 131 cattle and 55 sheep during various operations in the state.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Gambo Isah, told newsmen that the operations were carried out in Danmusa, Malumfashi and Matazu local councils.

According to him, Dutsinma Area Commander led a team of policemen to Yantumaki forest, blocked the hoodlums and engaged them in a gun fight.

He also confirmed a vehicular accident, which led to the death of five persons in Danmusa.

Terrorists fleeing their hideouts from the onslaught by security operatives reportedly caused the Saturday incident.

The Guardian gathered that the victims were riding in a Golf car from Yantumaki to Danmusa when the accident occurred.

A source said the vehicle ran into the terrorists, who opened fire on them when the driver refused to stop, and the car somersaulted several times before hitting a tree, leading to the death of the five on the spot.

Another set of terrorists stormed several communities of Munya Local Council, Niger State, at the weekend, looted and kidnapped unspecified number of villagers. Many other people were reported killed.

It was gathered that the terrorists operated for three days without resistance from any security agents or local vigilantes.

In another development, an officer of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) attached to the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone B, has allegedly killed one person and injured another, at the weekend, in Dusinsafe area of Katsina.

The victim was identified as Abdulmalik Lawal, while Jamilu Abdullahi was injured. They were said to be travelling in a vehicle, when the NCS officer, who was riding a motorcycle, overtook and opened fire on them.

A witness said: “The Customs officer didn’t say a word to the travellers before he fired at them. Shortly after the incident, a Customs vehicle with the inscription ‘Customs Zone B’, came to the scene and left with the officer who shot at the victims.

“But some passers-by, on seeing what happened, apprehended the civilian motorcyclist, who carried the officer, and handed him over to the Katsina Central Police Division.

Spokesperson for the NCS in the state, Danbaba Isah, confirmed the incident, but said it involved an officer with NCS FOU.

MEANWHILE, the Theatre Commander, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), Maj-Gen. Christopher Musa, has tasked troops to be professional in the ongoing counter-insurgency operations in the North East.

Musa gave the charge, at the weekend, while addressing soldiers in Damasak, a border community with Niger Republic.

Boko Haram had severally attacked the community, comprising farmers and herders, despite the return of over 800 households by the Borno State government.

He said the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, who was the theatre commander, “is conversant with the difficult terrain of the Sambisa Forest and Lake Chad region,” the twin hibernating areas of terrorists.

He, therefore, urged the ground troops to take the fight to the forest and region, as Yahaya had provided all the capital and human resources to prosecute the war to an end for peace.

“You must reciprocate by using all the equipment professionally to end terrorism by 2022,” he declared. (The Guardian)