Katsina bandits sacked 20,000 villagers; women, children dying in camp: Community Leader

No fewer than 3,000 children are unable to go to school as bandits sacked about 20,000 people across communities in Jibia local government area (LGA) of Katsina.

Sa’ad Salihu, chairman of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) camp, disclosed this on Monday.

Mr Salisu, also Shimfida Youth Development Association’s chair, said some children were in school when the people of the communities started running out of the area because of bandits.

He explained that many of the IDPs, presently at Government Girls’ Secondary School, Jibia, came from Kwari, Zango, Shimfida,Tsauni, Far Faru, Tsambe and Gurbin Magariya communities.

According to him, it is a great setback in the education sector due to the large number of out-of-school children. Over 15,000 IDPs are in the camp.

“At least, 23 women and children have died at the camp within four months, either as a result of hypertension or depression, while 35 women gave birth. Over 3,000 children who are currently in the camp could not have access to education at the moment,” he disclosed.

Mr Salihu added, “From the Shimfida community alone, we have 8,000 people that are in this camp; Far Faru Community, over 7,000 and about 200 were from the Zango community. Some of the IDPs are there in some parts of Niger Republic. All in all, about 20,000 people were sacked out of their communities by the bandits.”

In the camp, there are no mattresses, water, mats and mosquito nets, according to Mr Salihu.

He appealed to Governor Aminu Masari to restore security to their communities to enable them to return home. President Muhammadu Buhari is from Katsina.

Messrs Buhari and Masari belong to the ruling APC.

(NAN)