By Desire Emmanuel
Gunmen suspected to be bandits on Sunday evening launched attacks on two settlements in Katsina State, killing a pregnant woman and nine other residents while also setting a number of houses ablaze.
The gunmen on motorcycles invaded the agrarian settlements of Gidan Sarkin Noma and Gidan Wawu in Guga Ward, Bakori Local Government Area of the state and carried out the dastardly acts unchallenged.
It was gathered that more persons could have been killed during the attacks if not because many residents had travelled to Guga market to make purchases for the forthcoming Eid el-Kabir celebrations.
Sources close to the local government area told Impact Nigeria News Online on Monday morning that apart from the killings, the attackers also set houses ablaze, destroyed valuables, rustled cattle and left the farming settlements devastated before leaving.
The sources said the victims bodies were taken to Primary Health Centre, Guga, and they are expected to be buried according to Islamic rites later on Monday.
Residents were also quoted as saying that the settlements have suffered repeated attacks for over a year, with violence intensifying in the past two weeks with reports that five other residents were reportedly killed.
In another worrisome development, on Sunday afternoon, bandits attacked some settlements on the outskirts of Musawa town in Musawa Local Government Area of the state, forcing residents to flee in different direction while the marauders rustled a large numbers of cattle.
It was gathered that women and children displaced by the attack are currently stranded in Musawa town without shelter, food or basic support.
