At least five bandits have been killed, weapons and motorcycles recovered when vigilante groups in Batsari community of Katsina state engaged in heavy gun fight with bandits who came to attack them. It was said the fight lasted for about three hours. Several local sources, who revealed details of the incident to journalists on condition of anonymity, because of concern over their safety, said members of the vigilante group surrounded the bandits after they stormed Batsari Local Government headquarters around 4:00 p.m. conveyed on motorbikes and armed with AK 47 rifles.
The source revealed that the bandits were not aware that, a group of vigilante members in the area were ready for them by the time they arrived the community.
“Most of us were at the mosques for the early evening prayer when we heard multiple gunshots. That’s always their (terrorists) style; they would just come into the town and start shooting to cause panic before they start abducting people and rustling cattle,” one of the sources said.
“I went back home and locked my door until one of my neighbours called to inform me that the special hunters have arrived. I went to the Community Secondary school where the bandits normally station themselves whenever they attack and I saw their motorcycles and guns retrieved by the vigilante members,” said another source.
Batsari is one of the most terrorised towns in Katsina state. The town shares boundaries with Jibia, Safana, parts of Zamfara State and the dreaded Ruguforest, which is a notorious hideout for terrorists.
Residents of communities in Batsari have suffered greatly from the activities of the terrorists that have resulted in deaths of hundreds of people and displacement of several others.
Source: Premiumtimes