Seven individuals lost their lives and 16 more sustained injuries during an attack by bandits at a religious event in Kusa town, Musawa Local Government Area of Katsina State.
The assault took place a few minutes past 10 pm on Sunday when the bandits arrived at the gathering and opened fire on the attendees.
The spokesperson for the Katsina State Police Command, Abubakar Aliyu, reported that on November 5, 2023, a group of armed bandits, carrying dangerous weapons such as AK-47 rifles, launched an attack on the Maulud procession at Rugar Kusa village in Musawa Local Government Area.
Upon receiving the report, law enforcement officers promptly mobilized and responded, successfully repelling the attack.
Tragically, seven individuals were fatally shot, and 18 others sustained gunshot injuries.
Two of the injured victims lost their lives while undergoing medical treatment. An ongoing investigation is actively seeking to apprehend the culprits behind this heinous act.
Local residents described how the bandits had surrounded the religious gathering and began firing randomly. Many attendees were injured, and some were taken captive.
In response to the tragedy, Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State paid a visit to the affected community.
The governor, who was returning from Kaduna, learned of the incident and decided to visit the community to express his condolences and solidarity with the residents.
During his visit, he assured the victims that the government was committed to restoring peace to the entire state.
The residents, appreciative of the governor’s visit and his efforts to combat banditry, commended him for establishing a community watch corps and pledged their support for the government’s endeavors to address security challenges.