Police arrest Katsina village head for conniving with terrorists

The operatives of the Katsina State Police Command have arrested the head of Gobirau Village in Faskari Local Government Area of the state for alleged connivance with terrorists.

The command’s spokesman, SP Gambo Isah, disclosed this while parading the village head alongside some other suspects before newsmen on Friday.

Isah said the police received a distress call that a 35-year-old man, Yahaya Danbai, was attacked on his farm by a suspected terrorist using AK 47 rifle.

“The farmer summoned courage, overpowered his assailant, disarmed him, and killed the terrorist.

“He took the recovered AK 47 rifle and reported the incident to the ward head, Malam Surajo Madawaki.

“Rather than report the matter to the police, the village head called one Hamisu, a notorious leader of the killed terrorist and handed over the recovered AK 47 rifle to him.

“Consequently, Hamisu mobilised his gang, surrounded the village, brought out the gallant farmer and killed him instantly,” the police spokesperson said.

He stated that the terrorists placed a N10 million ransom on the community because the farmer killed one of their members, failing which they would kill everybody in the village.

“Since then the said ward head went into hiding, until he was eventually arrested.

“In the course of investigation, the village head confessed to the commission of the offence,” Isah added.

He said the police arrested other criminals, including suspected informants, a car snatcher, and cattle rustlers.

The police spokesperson added that other suspects arrested included suspected armed robbers, a paedophile, and a woman accused of killing her step son by throwing him into a well.

The Star

Segun Ojo