Gunmen kill businessman, abduct daughter in Katsina

Gunmen struck yesterday morning, killing a popular maize merchant, Alhaji Nasiru Maimasara, and abducted his 15-year-old daughter, Aisha at Gachi quarters in Kankia local government area of Katsina State.

Narrating the incident, an eyewitness told newsmen, “when the gunmen invaded the area, they started shooting sporadically, while moving to the victims’ residence at Gachi quarters. The bandits shot the victim when he attempted to run and went away with his daughter. The victim was later taken to Kankia General Hospital where he was confirmed dead.”

The incident, which occurred at about 2:00a.m. is coming eight months after unknown gunmen abducted a 14-year-old girl and daughter of another businessman in the same council area.

Also, yesterday’s incident comes four days after a whole village was made to flee their homes and find refuge at a school building in Batsari town, Batsari local government area due to activities of bandits.

The bandits are reported to be those operating in neighbouring Zamfara State where the military and other related security bodies have been frustrating their activities.

A source said that the gunmen who shot and killed the businessman had gained access into his house after forcing their way through a garage door.

He added that the gunmen also fired many shots into the air while the operation lasted to scare away residents that might want to act heroic. It was however learnt that no ransom demand had been made on the abducted girl by the gunmen.

Spokesman of the police command in the state, SP Gambo Isah, confirmed the incident, saying the command has deployed its Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) and State Investigation Bureau (SIB) to track down and rescue the victim.

Meanwhile, Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Prince Matthew Kolawole, has confirmed the kidnap of his brother, wife and two others on Kabba-Oshokoshoko road in the state.

Kolawole, who disclosed this during the house plenary sitting yesterday, said the yet-to-be-identified hoodlums appeared in army and police uniforms and later demanded ransom. The speaker, while drawing the attention of the state government and security agencies to the rampant kidnapping, which has resurfaced in the state, said the incident happened on Monday.

Kolawole, who brought this to a fore in a motion of urgent public importance, which was read by Barrister Oluwatoyin Lawal (PDP Yagba West), called on security agencies to quickly swing into action in rescuing the victims from their abductors.
He urged the state government to further equip the police and other security agencies with more high technology gadgets that will help towards stemming down crimes and criminalities in Kogi.

In another development, the Niger State Police Command has arrested a man, Garba Maru, for killing his neighbour with a cutlass. Maru who was arrested in New Bussa in Borgu Local Government Area of the state, was trailed and arrested by the police operatives attached to Borgu Division on a tip-off while trying to escape.

The suspect was said to have killed his neighbour, Umar Mohammed with a cutlass over some misunderstanding between them for a period of time.

“I hardly forgive somebody that offends me, I will always remember and ready to kill the person at any given time. I am such a person if you wrong me January if I see you by December, I will retaliate,” Maru explained.