Bandits went on rampage on Sunday, killing 24 people in separate attacks on communities in Katsina and Kaduna States.
The attacks was reported on Saturday night in Duba community, Batsari Local Government Area of Katsina State, where 12 people died and six injured.
Twelve others were killed in reprisal attacks between villagers and herders in Mado, Zangon Kataf local government area of Kaduna State.
Batsari, where the Katsina killings occurred, is known as the hot bed of banditry in the Northwest state. It shares boundary with the dreaded Rugu Forest and also one of the 10 frontline Local Government Areas prone to armed banditry.
Confirming the incident, spokesman of the Katsina State Police Command, Isa Gambo, told reporters that bandits numbering over 300 and armed with General Purpose Machine Guns, RPGs, including anti-aircraft guns, attacked the community at about 8.45pm on Saturday.
He said: “The bandits had, upon their arrival at the Duba community, started shooting sporadically into the air after which they looted a number of shops and rustled some domestic animals belonging to residents’’
As a result of the attack, 12 people were killed while six injured.”
He said the joint military, police and Airforce operation are ongoing to deal with the situation.
