There has been tension since notorious bandit, Dankarami and his gang members reportedly relocated from Zamfara State to Katsina state. 

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the terrorists fled from a military operation in Zamfara and settled in Tsaskiya, Runka, Gora, Labo and other communities in the Safana and Batsari Local Government Areas of Katsina state.

The villagers claimed that the heavily armed bandits moved with many herds of cattle and teamed up with another notorious bandit, Usman Modi-Modi, to continue their criminal activities. 

A source confirmed to NAN that about a thousand of the terrorists came in on motorcycles and spent the night on Saturday at Labo village. 

While it is not clear if the bandits are setting up a new base or on transit, the villagers have appealed to the Katsina State Government and military to respond promptly and deny them any space to operate. 

A community leader who spoke on anonymity said some of the villagers have begun relocating to avoid being caught up in the impending disaster. 

“If nothing is done immediately, these terrorists will pose serious security threat to many surrounding local government areas, including the state capital.

“There are many of them and heavily armed. 

“Government should respond with decisive fire power to save the people,” the source added.

Reacting, the Katsina State Police Command through its spokesperson, CSP Gambo Isah, said the command was investigating the truth of the information. 

“There is such rumour of the ongoing onslaught in the military operations and the police in Zamfara forcing some terrorists to relocate to some parts of the state.

“Here in Katsina, the security forces, particularly the Army, Nigerian Air Force and the Police have taken note of that and are making investigation to ascertain its genuineness and take appropriate action,” Isah said.