No fewer than 21 members of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps and local vigilantes have been confirmed dead following an ambush by suspected bandits in Baure, a village in Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State.
The attack happened on Tuesday around 4:30 p.m. as the victims returned from a condolence visit to the family of a dead colleague.
Police spokesperson, Sadiq Abubakar, confirmed the incident in a statement on Friday, saying, “Sadly, 21 persons were fatally shot as a result of the attack.”
He added that normalcy had been restored in the area and investigations were ongoing to “arrest of the perpetrators”.
However, witnesses reported a higher death toll, with one source stating, “From the headcount done so far, over 15 persons have been confirmed killed, and many others are still missing.”
Another witness disclosed that “a total of 25 people have been confirmed dead, while many others remain unaccounted for.”
The area, described as a stronghold of bandits, has suffered frequent attacks, with bandits exploiting market days to target residents.
Katsina, like other Northwestern states, remains plagued by violent raids and abductions.
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