One killed, several others missing as bandits attack Batsari town

He said about 27 people were still unaccounted for though it could not be ascertained whether they were kidnapped by the gunmen.

Suspected bandits have stormed Batsari town, headquarters of Batsari Local Government Area of Katsina State, killing one and possibly ‘abducting’ others.

A resident of Batsari, who spoke with Daily Trust on phone said a farmer, Alhaji Iliya Bakon-Zabo, who had migrated to Batsari about six years ago was the person killed during the attack.

• ‘Why educators must equip students with practical skills’
• Seven issues that will make or mar Nigeria by 2023 (II)

He said about 27 people were still unaccounted for though it could not be ascertained whether they were kidnapped by the gunmen.

“Not long ago, a woman has returned. So, we cannot say whether all the missing persons are currently in captivity or not, but as I speak with you now, we have counted 27 persons so far that we don’t know their whereabouts,” he said.

He said the gunmen entered Batsari through the western part of the town around 12:10am on Tuesday and started shooting indiscriminately.

He added that security agencies managed to repel the attack by the gunmen, stressing that if not for their efforts, the damage could have been worse.

Daily Trust gathered that this is the first time the gunmen had entered Batsari town as all the previous attacks in the local government area were carried out in the villages.

Confirming the incident, the state police spokesman, SP Gambo Isah, said the bandits who came in their numbers were chased away by a combined team of the police and the military.