bandits attack again, kidnap Katsina Monarch and 13 more people

Amid serious concern about the kidnapped students of State College in Kagar, Niger, militants reportedly struck again in neighboring Katsina state, kidnapping one monarch and 13 others in two separate attacks.

Militants reportedly kidnapped the traditional 91-year-old ruler of the Kunduru community on Friday night.

The Sunday Vanguard learned that the victim, Galadiman Kunduru, is the father of Katsina’s secretary of state, Alhaji Kasimu Ibrahim. The monarch was taken away by militants who stormed the city on motorcycles

One of his sons, who asked to remain anonymous, confirmed the Sunday Vanguard incident yesterday, adding that the incident had already been reported to the police. The 90-year-old man is reported to have health problems.

The sources also said that the kidnappers had no contact with the family. During the press release, the permanent secretary could not be contacted because no one answered his cell phone.

When contacted, a spokesman for the Katsina State Police Department, Police Superintendent Gambo Isa, said he was unaware of the incident.

“I am not aware of this incident,” Vanguard said Sunday.

During the incident, gunmen abducted 13 travelers in the Fascari local government area of ​​the state.

The victims were 12 women and the driver of the car in which they were traveling. Isa also confirmed the incident, saying the militants struck at 10 a.m. on February 17, 2021.

He explained that the victims traveled to Puntua from Mai Gora to obtain loans from a bank provided by the family support program. A police spokesman said that three people later escaped from the bandits.

He added that the police are making efforts to ensure that the abductees are rescued alive.

According to him, “it is not true that seventeen women who went to the wedding were abducted.

“It happened that thirteen women of Mai Gora went to Puntua for a loan to support the family in a bank, somewhere in front of the village of Dan Rimi, these bandits came out of the bushes and shot through the tires of a car. They drove on, forcing the driver to stop. Three women fled, and the other nine and the driver were abducted.

“We are working hard to ensure that the nine women and the driver who are still in captivity are saved alive. The accident happened at 10:00. “

Residents said the gunmen had not yet contacted the families of the victims at the time of press release.