Bandits on Monday evening attacked the Yankamaye community in Tsanyawa Local Government Area of Kano State, killing five people and injuring four others.

Residents said the attackers, numbering over 30, stormed the area around 6pm on motorcycles.

They reportedly crossed from neighbouring Rimaye community in Katsina State, shooting sporadically as they advanced.

The former vice chairman of Tsanyawa Local Government Council, Ado Haladu Yankamaye, confirmed that the victims, all men, were buried Tuesday morning in accordance with Islamic rites.

“All those killed were men, some with as many as 10 children. Only one of them was a youth who was not yet married. The attackers stormed the town on motorcycles, divided themselves into different corners, and shot sporadically.

“It was God that saved us. Most of the victims were killed while trying to run away. They didn’t kidnap anyone. Security personnel are still moving into the town, but people remain apprehensive. Many did not sleep there last night due to fear,” he said.

The former vice chairman added that this was the second time the bandits had attacked the area.

He recalled that during an earlier attack five months ago, they kidnapped four women and killed one person.

He lamented that the community did not get immediate security intervention because of its distance from the local government headquarters.

He called on the state government to provide adequate security to the area, noting that most of the bandits cross from neighbouring Katsina State.

Another resident, who preferred not to be named, told Daily Trust that the assailants rode on about 12 motorcycles, each carrying three men.

“They crossed from Rimaye in Katsina and started shooting in the town before they were eventually overpowered. People have gradually started returning to their homes after fleeing yesterday,” he said.

Yankamaye, a border community between Kano and Katsina, has suffered repeated bandit attacks, especially last year.

The Kano police public relations officer, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, confirmed the attack, adding that teams of Policemen and Joint Task Force (JTF) have been deployed to the area for the arrest of the culprits.

The attack is coming less than a week after bandits, also suspected to have crossed from Katsina, killed one and rustled over 300 cattle in Mainika village of Gwarzo, another Katsina neighbouring LGA in Kano State. (Daily Trust)