From Agaju Madugba, Katsina
The Katsina State police command on Monday evening confirmed the killing of four of its officers by terrorists in an ambush on Sunday.
In the incident at Gidan Tofa and Dan Nakwabo villages of Kankara Local Government Area, the hoodlums also slaughtered two officers from the Katsina State Community Watch Corps (KSCWC) along with 20 residents from the two communities.
According to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, the policemen were killed when the hoodlums ambushed a police Armoured Personnel Carrier patrol team who were responding to a distress call.
According to the statement, “the fact of the case is that on the same date, at about 1500 hrs, a distress call was received at the Kankara Divisional Headquarters that armed bandits in their numbers riding on motorcycles armed with dangerous weapons, shooting sporadically, attacked Gidan Baki village, Kankara LGA, killing unsuspecting villagers.
“Immediately, the nearest Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) patrol team was dispatched to the scene. While en-route to Gidan Baki village, the team discovered that the attack was actually on Gidan Boka village via Yar Goje village, Kankara LGA, where they quickly redirected towards the scene.
“Upon reaching Kurmeji village via Yar goje, the team fell into an ambush, where a firefight ensued between the team and the bandits.
“Upon receipt of the information on the attack of the responding team, swiftly the DPO mobilised and led a team of operatives to the scene and restored normalcy.
“During preliminary investigation, it was revealed that the armed bandits attacked Gidan Boka village, killing 15 people and injured two others. “They also ambushed our patrol team and killed four police officers, three Inspectors and one Corporal and two members of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps.
“Also, the bandits, while escaping through Dan Nakwabo village, Kankara Local Government Area, shot and killed five persons.
“While working with all relevant stakeholders in the state to prevent further occurrences and the arrest of the perpetrators of the dastardly act, the Command has deployed additional operational assets to the area.
“The Commissioner of Police, while expressing his utter dismay over the tragic incident, extends his condolences to the families and friends of those affected by the incident,” the statement said.”