Bandits that attacked Dansarai, an agricultural town in Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State received more than they bargained for, on Tuesday, as the people resisted.
According to Daily Trust, the attackers invaded the hamlet on motorcycles with sophisticated weapons including AK-47 rifles.
The alleged indiscriminate firing on the civilians resulted in the death of four persons in the process.
As they came inside the village they began shooting intermittently. “Four of our guys were killed immediately,” one witness claimed.
The villagers of Dansarai, backed by local vigilantes, rallied and fought back against the assailants, angered by the killings and destruction.
Another neighbour stated the locals managed to drive off the attacks, killing four of the robbers and forcing others to flee.
“Our people rose up to defend themselves. Four of the bandits were neutralised in the encounter, while the rest were forced to flee,” the resident said.
“They also dropped their plans to rustle livestock and loot shops and homes.”
Eight residents were also injured to differing degrees in the incident. The patients were brought to neighbouring health facilities and are currently undergoing treatment, a community source added.
Some had suffering gunshot wounds, while others were injured in the turmoil but they are responding to treatment,” the source added.
The residents said the distress calls were made several times to the security agencies during the attack but no staff came until the criminals escaped.
We kept yelling for aid but no one came. “We were left on our own to deal with the situation,” said one community leader.
Following the event, residents of Dansarai and its environs have asked the state and federal governments to increase security presence in the eastern axis of Malumfashi as the area has become increasingly exposed to criminal attacks.
“This has become a soft target for bandits. Another homeowner remarked, “We need a permanent security presence to defend our lives and livelihoods.”
The eastern section of Malumfashi LGA is one of the most affected areas by banditry in the Funtua zone, which contains 11 local government areas in Katsina State.
When called, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Sadiq Aliyu, stated he will check the situation and revert to us. No official answer has been received, however, at the time of reporting this story.
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