Katsina State Government and combined team of joint security operatives and allied security forces in the state, for the second day running, on Sunday morning demolished another house used by bandits as hideouts and cells for captives of their nefarious activities in Yartalata near Rugoji village of Kafur Local Government Area of the state

Addressing the Pressmen before the exercise, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Katsina State Police Command, SP Gambo Isa said the houses belongs to one Ibrahim Masaja who is allegedly the kingpin of the bandits in that area.

He further recalled that a team of Policemen led by SARS leaders for Katsina State, SP Andrew raided the houses and rescued one Paul Lawal, 25 years who was kidnapped by the hoodlums from his family house at staff quarters of GGSS, Malumfashi.

He said’’ during the police operation the victim was discovered chained in a hut within this house belonging to Masaja’’

‘’The SARS team succeeded in arresting one of the suspected bandits, named Muhammad Bello, 2 gang members were killed during an exchange of gun fire while the owner of the house is still at large’’.

The arrested suspect Muhammad Bello who led the joint team of the Military, Police and DSS and Government to the demolition site, confessed to have participated in kidnapping Paul Lawal on the 4th January, this year and demanded for N15m ransom.

He however claimed to be a first timer who was lured into the nasty business by those already killed by the police.

The 4 bedroom mud house located at a scattered Fulani settlement was then demolished with the use of two tractors in the presence of the newsmen under heavily armed security personnel, headed by Major Ibrahim from the 35 Battalion, Katsina.

Later a group of youths from the neighboring environments who were overwhelmed by the ongoing demolition exercise and the heavy presence of security in their area, rose in support by chanting songs in Hausa which when interpreted means “success has come we are now relieved from bondage of the wicked and set the place ablaze.”

Hundreds of people at the neighboring Malamawa town who thronged the Malumfashi- Dankanjaba road junction hailed the demolition team as they came out of the forest and showering encomiums on Governor Aminu Bello Masari for decisively dealing with the bandits.

Investigation by the nation revealed that the recent offensive onslaught by the state Government against some of the bandits who defied its recent 2 day ultimatum has cause many of them to flee Katsina to the neighboring states. Katsina is presently enjoying respite from banditry attacks. (The Nation)

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