Bandits operating in Katsina State would have carried out another successful operation in the state recently but for the vigilance of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC. This time the target of the bandits who planned the raid a few days to the end of Ramadan was not just to kill or kidnap people for ransom. Rather, the outlaws also wanted to steal food from the silo of the federal government where grains are kept. They had laid siege on the silo in Dutsinma Local Government Area of Katsina. And had they succeeded, there would have been a haul for them, while the government would have lost a great deal of the grains kept in reserve and which would have served three northern states, namely Katsina, Zamfara, and Sokoto.
The Agro Rangers unit of the NSCDC saved the day. The unit repelled the ambush by the heavily armed attacking bandits. The silo is used to store grains being distributed to the people of three states.
A statement issued by Buhari Hamisu, spokesperson of the Corps said the Agro rangers repelled the attack which took place around 1:00 am. The bandits attempted to destroy the silo and abduct its manager, identified as Lawal Shitu-Yar’adua.
Hamisu said “The valiant operatives overpowered the criminals, who scaled the rear fence of the reserve and escaped with serious injuries. The silo was not damaged, nor did the criminals succeed in their nefarious act.”
To assure the people of the area that adequate protection had been put in place, Hamisu added that other security agencies that were alerted had deployed their operatives to the area just in case the bandits decided to launch another attack. He, therefore, said that more personnel had been deployed “to the location and to increase the firepower of the operatives on the ground to prevent reoccurrence of the attacks.”