Between Monday and Tuesday week, bandits laid siege on President Muhammed Buhari’s home State, Katsina and home town, Daura where they whisked away his in-law and district head of Daura, Alhaji Musa Umar
Umar, retired customs officer and a senior traditional title holder in the Daura Emirate Council, was seized by four gunmen who stormed his residence around 7pm on Wednesday, May 1.
The district head, who holds the title of Magajin Garin Daura, is said to be married to the president’s niece.
He is also reported to be the father of Fatima, wife of President Buhari’s aide-de-camp, Col. Mohammed Abubakar.
A witness, who identified himself as Malam Abdullahi, told Daily Trust in an interview that the armed men invaded the residence of the traditional ruler in a convoy of two vehicles – a blue Peugeot 406 Saloon car and a Toyota Hilux.
“They met him in front of his house at Kwanar Agam in the city and forcefully abducted him around 7pm after Magrib prayers.”
Another witness, Malam Muhammad, who lives in the same area with the abducted chief, described the incident as a “drama.”
“We all observed the Maghrib prayer in the same neighbourhood and left the mosque. The district head retreated back to his house and sat in the front…It is part of his routine to wait until after the Isha’i, the last prayer of the day, before he will retire into his house.
“However, while seated in front of his house, he received some phone calls. From all indications, those who called told him they were on their way to see him.
“Few minutes after, they arrived at the house, parked their vehicles, alighted and then approached the Magajin Gari. All of a sudden, they grabbed him and whisked him into one of the waiting vehicles and sped off.
“When people tried to come to his aid, the gunmen shot sporadically in the air to scare the people who were forced to run to safety,” he added.
Another source, who craved anonymity, said Umar might have been targeted because of his standing.
“You know he is married to Hajiya Bilki, a niece to President Muhammadu Buhari, being the daughter of his elder sister, Hajiya Rakiya.
“He is also the father of Fatima, who is married to the president’s Aide De Camp (ADC), Col. Mohammed Abubakar.
“We have never had this kind of incident in Daura in the past despite our proximity to the Nigerien border. Though nobody was killed or injured, the people were highly traumatised,” he said.
Meanwhile, the chairman of Daura local government area, Mr. Abba Mato, who confirmed the incident, said security agencies had been informed the development.
In Gobirawa and Sabawa villages in Safana local government area of the state, bandits struck in Gobirawa and Sabawa villages in Safana local government area where they killed no fewer than 17 people and injured many in a night attack on Tuesday.
The member representing Safana constituency in the Katsina State House of Assembly, Mr. Abduljalal Runka, told journalists in an interview that the bandits numbering more than 100 arrived in the villages on motorcycles and began to shoot indiscriminately.
He said they started in Gobirawa village where most of the victims were killed before they moved to Sabawa.
“They entered the villages yesterday, killed people and burnt houses and shops. As of now, we have 17 corpses on the ground and we are still sorting out. On Friday they entered another village called Ilela and killed two children.
“The federal government should come to our aid. What the bandits are doing in Zamfara is what they are doing in Katsina. Even yesterday (Tuesday), I moved a motion on the issue at the state Assembly. It is necessary for federal government to focus its attention in Katsina State,” he said.
ThisDay quotes the spokesman for the Katsina State Police Command, Mr. Gambo Isah, who confirmed the incident as saying that police personnel, including mobile policemen and other security agencies had been drafted to the affected areas.
