Bandits attack hometown of ex-Army spokesman, leaving six dead

A tragic incident unfolded in Kukasheka, Katsina State, the hometown of former army spokesman Brigadier-General Sani Kukasheka, as armed bandits launched a violent attack late Sunday night.

The assault, which occurred around 10 PM, resulted in the death of six individuals, including Kukasheka’s younger brother.

In an interview with newsmen, Brigadier-General Kukasheka said he did not perceive the attack as a personal assault despite the loss of his sibling.

The attack claimed the lives of four individuals instantly, with two more succumbing to their injuries while receiving medical treatment.

The brutality of the assault has left the community reeling, as most of the victims were family men with numerous dependants.

Adding to the distress of the incident, the wife of the chief imam of Kukasheka was kidnapped during the assault, leaving residents and local authorities in shock over the increasing insecurity in the region.

Speaking on the incident, Kukasheka said, “You can see the humanitarian crisis this attack has caused. My brother had a wife and two children and one young boy was sent on an errand by his mother. Other victims were breadwinners of their families. One of them was catering for over 30 people.

“This is not the first attack that affected my immediate family. My wife’s elder brother was killed next to my house. My sister was once abducted in a neighbouring village and my mother-in-law was kidnapped; she spent 17 days in captivity close to Eid el Kabir.

“It is not a personal thing. Although I don’t know their motives, I see it as a general problem. Anyone living around this area is vulnerable, especially in Kankara. All we need to do is intensify intelligence and information gathering about them.”