Security
Terrorists’ Attack During Religious Celebration In Katsina
The Rugar Kusa, a community within Musawa Local Government of Katsina State, turned into a nightmare as terrorists launched a violent assault on Sunday, disrupting a religious celebration.
The attackers’ intrusion resulted in a grim toll, with 14 innocent lives lost and 17 others left injured.
Residents had gathered to celebrate the Maulud, a significant religious occasion, when their lives were abruptly thrown into chaos.
This attack, attributed to terrorists, not only left a community in mourning but also exposed the ongoing security crisis in the region.
Maulud celebrations, which hold great cultural and religious significance, are observed by followers of Kadiriyya, Tijjaniya, and Shi’ites to commemorate the birth of Prophet Muhammad.
On this particular night, the festivities were nearing their conclusion when the terrorists struck, ruthlessly disrupting the celebration.
Witnesses described the horrifying moments as the attackers, armed with guns, invaded the community and unleashed a barrage of indiscriminate gunfire.
Some terrorists encircled the Maulud procession, while others ventured deeper into the community, intensifying the terror.
The sound of gunshots pierced the night, jolting even those who had been peacefully asleep.
In the face of this onslaught, several people, including those participating in the Maulud procession, were forced to flee into the safety of the nearby bush.
The desperate need to escape the violence propelled them into the darkness, where they sought refuge.
The aftermath of the attack was nothing short of a tragedy. As the dust settled, the community began the grim task of accounting for its losses.
Fourteen precious lives had been brutally cut short, a toll that included innocent victims who had merely come to celebrate their faith.
But the full extent of the horror was yet to be known, as uncertainty loomed over the fate of those who had not been accounted for.
The gravity of the situation prompted a swift medical response. Several individuals who had sustained gunshot wounds during the attack were rushed to the Ahmadi Rimi Orthopaedic and Special Hospital in Katsina.
The hospital staff worked tirelessly to provide critical medical care to those in need, further underscoring the severity of the incident.
In the wake of the tragedy, the Katsina Police Command issued an official statement.
According to the command spokesperson, Abubakar Sadik, nine people had lost their lives, and 16 others had been injured.
The initial report stated that seven people had been killed during the attack, with two more succumbing to their injuries while receiving medical treatment.
This official statement highlighted the immediate response by law enforcement and the efforts made to repel the attack.
This heart-wrenching incident in Katsina is not an isolated event. The entire North-west region, including states like Katsina, Kaduna, Sokoto, Zamfara, and Kebbi, has been grappling with a series of terrorist activities.
The attack on Rugar Kusa serves as a grim reminder of the persistent security challenges faced by the residents of these states.
No fewer than 26 people lost their lives, with three others sustaining injuries, following an improvised explosive device (IED) detonation along the Rann–Kala Balge–Gamboru Ngala highway in Borno.
According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, several civilian vehicles travelling from Rann in Kala Balge LGA ran into a series of hidden explosives.
Makama said the incident occurred on Monday after the convoy veered into a zone where the IEDs had been strategically placed.
The publication said the IEDs were triggered by the movement of vehicles, adding that emergency personnel were swiftly deployed to evacuate victims and administer first aid.
“Security forces have since cordoned off the affected route and commenced clearance operations to ensure safety and prevent a repeat of the incident,” the report said.
“Those injured have been transferred to nearby hospitals where they are currently receiving medical attention.”
Last week, Mohammed Badaru, minister of defence, said President Bola Tinubu is committed to addressing the growing security challenges in Borno state.
The minister spoke about the administration’s commitment to meeting all operational needs of the troops to enhance security in the region.
The Oodua Integrity Group, a Nigerian civil society organisation, has called on Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun to investigate and arrest an alleged gun runner, land grabber,popularly called then insert Lucky Blessings Abuah aka bullets of Achala Ibusa village operating in Asaba and Ibuzor, Delta State, accusing him of orchestrating criminal activities with the aid of rogue police officers.
Tosin Olaoluwa, the group’s South-South coordinator, made the appeal following intelligence gathered from concerned residents.
The suspect, identified as Achala Ibusa but popularly known as “Bullet,” is accused of running a network involving illegal arms trafficking, land grabbing, and cult-related activities.
Olaoluwa claimed Bullet operates with the protection of police officers from Rivers State, in violation of regulations prohibiting officers from working outside their command without approval.
According to the group, four AK-47 rifles were recently discovered hidden in a house in Ibuzor.
Two mobile police officers guarding the property reportedly distanced themselves from the find, raising suspicions of their involvement with Bullet, who is allegedly a leader of the Viking cult.
The Oodua Integrity Group further alleged that an assistant commissioner of police is complicit in Bullet’s activities.
The group highlighted that up to 10 mobile police officers are attached to Bullet, despite IGP Egbetokun’s recent directive to withdraw such personnel from individuals not legally entitled to their services.
“We urge the IGP to take immediate action to arrest the culprit in the interest of the general public,” Olaoluwa said, describing Bullet as a miscreant exploiting government security agents to perpetrate crimes.
In a separate incident, the group claimed that security agents from an agency in Abuja, acting on intelligence, were prevented from arresting Bullet by his police escorts.
The officers, reportedly from Rivers State, allegedly used tear gas and fired shots to obstruct the operation.
The Oodua Integrity Group warned that Bullet’s activities, including stockpiling AK-47s and other weapons in Asaba and Ibuzor, pose a significant threat to public safety.
They called for a thorough investigation into the allegations and the immediate apprehension of those involved.
The Nigeria Police Force has yet to respond to the allegations. Efforts to reach a spokesperson for comment were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.
The Kaduna state Police Command has debunked reports of a bomb explosion in the Abakpa area of the metropolis, which reportedly killed two children.
The spokesman of the Command, Mansir Hassan, said in a statement that preliminary investigations conducted by the Anti-Bomb Squad indicate that a locally made firearm (Dane gun) was discharged, resulting in the unfortunate loss of life of the young boy.
According to the police, the incident, which occurred at about 8:30 am on Tuesday at Josawa Road in the Abakpa area, claimed the life of a 12-year-old boy, identified as Abubakar Muhammed of Josawa Road, while seven other individuals sustained varying degrees of injuries.
The statement stated that a combined team of policemen led by the Divisional Police Officer of Kawo Division and the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Chairman of Kaduna North Local Government, all visited the scene following a distress call, and a thorough on-site assessment was carried out.
Police disclosed that further investigations and assessments are ongoing to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Command equally assured the public that further developments will be promptly and transparently communicated.