At least 40 vigilante members from different communities of Katsina State have been confirmed dead after bandits ambushed them.
THE EDITOR NIGERIA learned that the vigilante members were trailing the bandits after they stole over 50 cows around Yar goje forest in Kankara Local Government Area (LGA) of Katsina State when they were ambushed and killed on Wednesday evening.
Katsina is the home state of Nigeria’s president, Muhammadu Buhari.
Nicknamed Yan Sakai, the vigilante group was set up by Hausa farmers as a response to the murderous activities of the Fulani militias.
A source who doesn’t want to be named told the press that the bandits had stormed villages in Kankara and rustled some cattle.
“When the volunteer vigilante members were informed of the attacks, they mobilised and followed the bandits.
“But these bandits hid in the bush and allowed the volunteers to reach the ring after which they encircled them and started shooting sporadically.
“Over 40 vigilantes were killed because we counted them while retrieving their bodies,” he said.
Gambo Isah, the police spokesperson in the state, confirmed the attack on Friday evening.
