Daredevil terrorists have abducted 25 persons that include women and children, and injured scores of others during different operations in four local government areas of Katsina State.
According to sources in Batsari council area, on Sunday night, at about 9:00 pm, the marauders abducted 20 persons in Madogara community, most of whom were peasant farmers. The sources however said that one of those abducted managed to escape after he vigorously fought one of the terrorists that was holding onto him.
It was learnt that the victim sustained injuries from machetes used on his body by other terrorist members, who had tried to keep him from escaping. It was also gathered that some family members of those abducted have been receiving calls from the terrorists, asking for a ransom payment.
Terrorists also abducted three healthcare workers a few days ago. One of them, Balarabe Mohammed, was abducted on August 6 at the Dogon-Dawa Healthcare Facility in Faskari council, while the other two were abducted on August 1, at Dandume council area while going about their assigned duties.
Again, terrorists abducted a woman, popularly known as Fatima, who sells local food known as Waina, along with her daughter.
It was learnt that incidents of abductions had spiked in recent weeks due to the rainy season, which makes farmers go to their farms thereby making them easy targets for the marauders.
In recent months, hundreds of people have either lost their lives, been kidnapped for ransom, had their communities or farmlands ransacked, or domestic animals rustled by the terrorists.
Spokesperson for the Police Command in the State, ASP Abubakar Aliyu, was yet to respond to inquiries made on these incidents as of the time of filing this report.
