The Police Command in Katsina State has confirmed the deaths of 11 individuals in a merciless attack by gunmen suspected to be bandits on three villages in Bakori Local Government Area of the state.
The Public Relations Officer, Mr. Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu, dispelled earlier reports suggesting a higher toll of 40 deaths, stating that the invaders had claimed 11 lives.
The incident has left the affected communities reeling from the brutality inflicted upon them.
“We are aware of a misleading report making the rounds, especially on Facebook, that bandits attacked three villages in Bakori and killed 40 people.
“The command wishes to categorically debunk this claim as misleading, and set the record straight.
“On May 25, 2024, bandits launched an attack on Unguwar Lamido village in Bakori where they shot and killed 11 people.
“The Divisional Police Officer in Bakori, on receiving the information, quickly mobilised operatives and rushed to the scene where they successfully restored normalcy and prevented further losses,” he explained.
Sadiq-Aliyu further urged the public to disregard the false report and emphasized the importance of verifying information through official channels before dissemination, highlighting the potential for panic, fear, and tension caused by spreading false information.
He quoted the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. A. A. Musa, as extending condolences to the friends and families of the victims while vehemently condemning the heinous attack.
“The commissioner has also ordered a thorough investigation into the incident and deployed additional personnel to ensure the arrest of the perpetrators.
“The Commissioner has also urged anyone with useful information that will assist the investigation to come forward and assist in bringing the perpetrators to justice.
“The investigation is ongoing; the command is working closely with relevant stakeholders and members of the community to identify and apprehend those responsible for the attack,” he said.
