By TINA TIMOTHY

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Atiku Abubakar has lamented the recent attack and killings in Yargoje village in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State by bandits who also ambushed the police officers responding to the distress and subsequently killing four police officers and two members of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps.

On his verified X handle @atiku, the former Vice President, on Tuesday June 11, 2024, expressed worry 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.”

Atiku wrote: “I am saddened by reports of the attack on Yargoje village in Kankara LGA of Katsina State, which claimed scores of lives and the kidnapping of vulnerable women and children.

“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.

“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.”

While condoling with the families of the victims, Atiku urged the government “to be alive to its responsibility of protecting the lives and property of the citizens.”

“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 added.