Terrorists, who disguised in women’s Abaya (dress) attacked Runka community in Katsina State over the weekend and kidnapped 26 persons — mostly women and children.
A local said the terrorists invaded the community at about 10.30 p.m., shooting sporadically.
“In my house alone they abducted 10 females and two males .In total, they abducted 26 people from the community,” he said, attributing the attack to the nefarious activities of informants who collaborated with the hoodlums to sabotage government efforts in fighting the terrorists.
“The informants include even those in our community. One of the terrorists was even heard exchanging pleasantries with an informant, telling him ‘today we’ve come to your hometown’.
“We’re yet to identify him,” he alleged.
Confirming the kidnap, Chairman of Safana Local Government Area in Katsina State, Abdullahi Sani Safana, told newsmen that 22 locals were abducted, but some were able to escape.
According to Safana, the communitywere taken by surprise as the terrorists disguised wearing Abaya, a sort of dress worn by women in the area.
He said the DPO in the area has deployed his operatives, who together with soldiers stationed in the area have since commenced a rescue mission.
Commenting on the development, the Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Abduljalal Haruna Runka, expressed dismay over lack of information on the movement of the terrorists before the fresh attack.
According to him, they used to be informed about the mission of the hoodlums. But this time around, all channels of getting information to thwart the attack on Runka community were blocked.
“They just appeared in the middle of the night. We are going back to the drawing board to analyse the situation. To know why we couldn’t get the information,” he said.
