Residents of communities in Kurfi Local Government Area of Katsina State have protested against incessant bandit activities in the area.
Tribune Online has gathered that most of those who joined the protest on Friday were from Birchi, Wurma, and other nearby communities.
The protesters blocked the Dutsin Ma – Katsina highway from around 10 a.m., burning corn stalks and tires on the highway. Despite their visible anger, they did not harm motorists on the road.
“They conducted themselves well because there were no cases of attacking motorists,” confessed a passing motorist, Bello Aliyu, en route to Kankara for a wedding fatiha. Bello mentioned that, along with other motorists, they spent about 30 minutes waiting for the protesters to calm down before continuing their journeys.
The protesters were expressing their frustration with the incessant bandit attacks in the area. Kurfi is one of the most vulnerable local government areas in Katsina State. Wurma, a community less than 40 kilometers from the state capital, has witnessed three consecutive attacks on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday night.
During the Tuesday attack, terrorists burnt down a newly built primary healthcare center, houses, vehicles, and a police outpost. State Governor Dikko Radda has vowed to continue the fight against terrorists in the state.
Radda was at the Wurma community on Friday, where he shed tears while addressing both the protesters and community leaders. In a statement by his chief press secretary, Ibrahim Kaula, Governor Radda acknowledged that the protesters had every reason to be angry.
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He called on the protesters to channel their energies into supporting the Joint Task Force, members of the Community Watch Corp, and other security agencies. The governor also stated that his administration would mobilize 100 security personnel to the community to ensure the safety of lives and property.
