Governor Dikko Umaru Radda of Katsina State has condemned the recent bandits’ attack in Mairua, Faskari Local Government Area of the State, describing it as an act of callousness.
The attack which occurred last Saturday evening during the evening Ramadan prayers, claimed the lives of two people and left two others abducted.
Governor Radda, through the Secretary to the State Government, Barrister Abdullahi Garba Faskari, condemned the attack and expressed his condolences. He pledged support for the bereaved families and urged residents to pray for the safe return of the deceased abducted wife and daughter. He also prayed for safety to return to the region.
Alhaji Lado Mairuwa, a big-time farmer and businessman paid the supreme prize during the attack. The late Lado left behind four wives and 26 children, while his neighbour, Sani Abdullahi who also got killed while attempting to help the deceased is survived by two wives and 20 children.
To exacerbate the families woes, the bandits abducted the deceased’ wife, Hajia Rabi, and his 14-year-old daughter, Maryam. Their whereabouts remain unknown till now.
During the condolence visit, the deceased son, Umar Abdulhamid, 18, who witnessed the incident, said the bandits shot and killed his father after he resisted their attempts to take him away. He also confirmed that a neighbour, Sani Abdullahi, who came to help, was also shot dead by the hoodlums.
While appreciating the governor’s concern and his administration’s efforts in tackling security challenges, residents of Mairuwa pleaded for more decisive action from the Federal Government. They specifically called for increased security measures in Katsina and neighbouring states like Zamfara, which have also been plagued by bandit attacks.