Seven Children Killed In Stampede As Residents Flee From Bandits In Katsina [Photos]

Residents who were fleeing from suspected bandits have killed seven children in a stampede in Shimfida village of Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State.

Seven Children Killed In Katsina Stampede

It was gathered that the tragic incident happened on Thursday morning, a few hours after soldiers serving in a joint security task force were withdrawn from the community.

According to Channels Television, a resident of the area, Abdulrazak Ahmad said that the withdrawn soldiers were initially stationed at the Government Secondary School, Shimfida, about 27 kilometres from Jibia ttown

The presence of the soldiers, who had been in the town for about eight years, was said to have provided the community a sense of protection from attack by bandits.

However, immediately after confirming that the troops were going to make a non-return trip, the residents became apprehensive, with many believing that the terrorists would strike seeing that the community had become vulnerable.

Bearing this in mind, residents began to pack all their belongings, some waiting for the slightest sign of an onslaught before they set out, while others had already started fleeing their respective houses to seek refuge elsewhere.

Sadly, no sooner had the people closed their eyes to sleep, than the gunmen invaded the community, shooting sporadically and kidnapping some of the villagers.

Ahmad, who believes that the withdrawal of the troops gave room for the bandits to invade the area, said the military and government did not inform the community ahead of the withdrawal of the soldiers.

He disclosed that the remains of the seven children have since been buried according to Islamic rites on Thursday evening in Jibia, while the injured persons from the stampede were in hospital in Jibia.

The Katsina State Police Command and other security agencies were yet to make formal statements regarding the development at the time of filing this report.

KanyiDaily had also reported how two women kidnapped three children barely 24 hours after moving into a new apartment at Itsekiri street, Ajuwon axis of Ogun State.