Suspected armed bandits have reportedly killed two individuals and kidnapped about 115 farmers, largely ladies and youngsters, in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State in an alleged reprisal assault linked to a breakdown in a not too long ago negotiated peace settlement.
The assault occurred on Saturday afternoon whereas the victims have been harvesting crops on their farmlands, elevating contemporary issues concerning the security of rural communities regardless of efforts to revive peace within the space.
A resident of Faskari, who disclosed the incident, stated the attackers invaded the farmlands, killed two individuals and kidnapped about 115 others.
Human rights advocate, Shamsudeen Faskari, stated the assault was allegedly linked to an earlier ambush involving members of the civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) and a few Fulani males transporting ₦6 million in ransom cash meant to safe the discharge of kidnapped victims.
According to him, data attributed to a Fulani chief indicated that the boys conveying the cash have been ambushed by civilian JTF members, allegedly triggering the retaliatory assault on farmers.
Faskari condemned the violence, notably the kidnapping of girls and youngsters, saying any grievances over the alleged interception ought to have been taken to native authorities authorities or different stakeholders concerned within the peace negotiations somewhat than directed at harmless residents.
He expressed concern that the incident had undermined the delicate peace association not too long ago reached with armed teams working in components of the native authorities space.
He stated the event uncovered weaknesses within the peace course of, notably the shortage of efficient mechanisms to resolve disputes and stop retaliatory assaults.
The advocate urged the related authorities to evaluate their strategy to peace negotiations and develop a framework with clear procedures for addressing grievances, guaranteeing accountability and defending susceptible communities.
He added that lasting peace required stronger safeguards for lives and property somewhat than agreements that may very well be undermined by disputes between armed teams and group safety volunteers.
The reported abduction has heightened fears amongst farming households whose livelihoods depend upon entry to their farmlands through the harvest season. It has additionally renewed issues concerning the dangers of kidnapping, displacement and disruption to youngsters’s training in rural Katsina.
However, the circumstances surrounding the alleged interception of the ₦6 million, the motive for the assault and the precise variety of kidnapped victims haven’t been independently verified.
As of the time of submitting this report, the Katsina State Police Command and related native authorities authorities had but to formally verify the incident.
