The Batsari Local Government Development Forum, BALDF, has debunked a recent statement credited to the Defence Headquarters in Abuja, claiming that about 46 bandits were killed during a counter attack in the community.
Recall that the Coordinator of the Defence Media Operations, John Enenche, in a statement last week, had claimed that the troops of Super Camp 4 Faskari, deployed for Operation Sahel Sanity, had on July 6 killed 46 bandits following a distress call on the invasion of armed bandits at Yar Gamji village in Batsari LG.
According to the statement, the gallant troops engaged the criminals, thereby neutralizing 46 bandits in the encounter, while others escaped with gun shots wounds.
But the Batsari forum debunked the report, saying that the Nigerian Army’s statement falls short of the truth.
The Forum’s Chairman, Sani Muslim, in a statement sent to PRNigeria, noted that it was misleading for the military to make such claim when none of the bandits was actually killed.
According to the forum, the bandits not only had a field day massacring 18 villagers, but they also escaped unchallenged after executing their ‘barbaric’ mission.
Mr Muslim, therefore, called on the Army field officers to endeavour to provide the services Headquarters with credible information backed up with relevant video footages and photographs to avoid such mishap in information dissemination.
He said: “We thank the security agencies for their sacrifices in ensuring that peace reigns in Batsari Local Government and Katsina State for socio-economic activities to thrive.
“However, a lot more needs to be done, especially in intelligence gathering and quick offensive action against the bandits who have made life very unbearable for us.”
Similarly, the District Head of Batsari, Mohammed Muazu, in an interview with newsmen, lamented that the renewed attacks by bandits had continued to instill fear and frustration in his people.
“People can no longer go to their farms as they used to do because of the fear of attacks. Even in the various towns and villages in the council, people sleep with one eye open.
“We know the government is trying its best but we shall always appeal to them to do more.”
“Currently, farming activities only take place in four villages in the whole of the council because of security challenges.
“The bandits killed our innocent, able-bodied men and women. Specifically, the bandits have killed at least 300 men.
“Because of the deaths, we now have no fewer than 500 widows and 1,600 orphans. Apart from disrupting our farming activities, the bandits rustled between three million and four million cows which are mainly bulls,” he noted.
