KATSINA, NIGERIA — Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has expressed grief over the recent ambush by bandits in Katsina State, which resulted in the deaths of security personnel and villagers.
The attack, which has been confirmed by the Katsina State Police Command, claimed approximately 20 lives, including four police officers and two operatives of the state-owned Community Watch Corps.
The ambush occurred on Sunday in the villages of Gidan Tofa and Dan Nakwabo, located in the Kankara Local Government Area of the state.
Reacting to the tragic news, Atiku took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to express his grief and condemn the attack. “I am saddened by reports of the attack on Yargoje village in Kankara LGA of Katsina State, which claimed scores of lives and the kidnap of vulnerable women and children,” Atiku wrote.
He further lamented the loss of the security personnel who were ambushed while responding to the distress call. “It is also sad that the bandits ambushed the police armoured personnel carrier responding to the distress call at Gidan Tofa and Dan Nakwabo villages, killing four police officers and two members of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps,” he added.
In his statement, Atiku criticized the government for what he perceives as a lack of effective response to the growing insecurity. “Most worrisome to me is that these acts of banditry and terrorism have become routine, with the government seemingly helpless and nonchalant about it despite the enormous annual budget for defence,” he remarked.
Atiku extended his condolences to the families of the victims and reiterated his call for the government to take its responsibility of protecting citizens seriously.
“While I sympathise with the families of the victims, I will once again call on the government to be alive to its responsibility of protecting the lives and property of the citizens,” he urged.