The authorities of 3 Brigade, Nigerian Army based in Kano yesterday put records straight over the attack allegedly perpetrated by terrorists in Daura town.
Reports, however, mentioned that six police men and two civilians were allegedly killed by the terrorists’ elements that targeted police station and banks in the ancient city of Hausa culture.
However, addressing reporters at the 3 Brigade headquarters yesterday, the Commander, Brigadier-General Illyasu Abba revealed that three soldiers and four terrorists lost their lives during several hours gun duel that later latter dislodged the Islamic militants.
Abbah also said that four terrorists were arrested, while several others sustained different degrees of bullet wounds during the cross-fire.
The Army Commander also named dangerous weapons recovered from the terrorists during the operation to include, 11 AK 47 riffles, 73 Magazines, 275 rounds of 7.62 ammunition, 118 rounds of FNW ammunition, 141 rounds of 9mm ammunition, one smoke of gun, two vehicles, and various Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).
“In keeping with the tradition of 3 Brigade, Nigerian Kano of updating residents within its area of operational responsibility on the fight against terrorists and criminal elements, the Brigade states as follows, on 16 May 2013 at about 2130 hours, members of the terrorists sect coordinated simultaneous attacks in Daura Local Government Council of Katsina state, on the Area Command of the Police and the Divisional Police station.
“The terrorists proceeded to rob four banks; however, troops of 35 Battalion responded to distress call and made gains against the terrorists. At the end of the encounter with troops which stretched up to Dutsi along Mani Road, four terrorists lost their lives while a good number of them sustained gunshot wounds. Three soldiers also lost their lives in the shootout while others sustained injuries.
The Army boss, however, appealed to the general public to cooperate with security agencies by divulging timely information on the activities of the militants, “headquarters of 3 Brigade and, Nigerian Army and all its units within its area of operational responsibility of Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states would like to assure residents that it is ready to respond to these threats,” Abbah added.
Abbah revealed that from security reports, “the three states may likely experience influx of persons with criminal tendencies fleeing the North-East, “where military operations are ongoing to root out terrorist s operating within the zone. The Brigade would also like to advice financial institutions with outstations outside of the state capitals to always leave minimal unattractive cash in their vaults at the end of business as the terrorists are in need of cash,” added Abbah.
According to him, the operation in Daura is still ongoing, adding that, “there may likelihood of house-to-house search; but the success of such operation will depend largely on the cooperation of the people, because the terrorists that attacked Daura were so many as the switched off all the security lights in Daura before carrying out their operation.”
He added that, “the irony of it all was that when the terrorists invaded Daura, they strated shouting Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, as children joined them to chorus it as they carried out their operations.”
However, the Katsina state Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Abdullahi Magaji disclosed that his Command successfully killed four of the gun men that attacked banks and police stations and also recovered four AK 47 and four IEDs.
He, however, described the gun men as armed robbers.
According to Magaji, “yesterday around 10:00 p.m, we received an information that some armed robbers are attacking banks in Daura town. When I received this message I tried to connect all the DPOs within the area at the same time dispatched armoured personnel carrier and other vehicles that could rescue the situation
‘”These hoodlums are armed robbers, I therefore urged people in the community to be wary of strangers and report any person of suspicious movement. The police are always ready to ensure protection of lives and property and we are on trail of the fleeing hoodlums’ he stressed.
“Most people ran into the bush when the shooting and the bombing started. I believed they came in about ten cars and they overwhelmed the security in the town. In fact everybody was on his own during the attacks by the hoodlums who are armed robbers. I therefore urge people in the community to be wary of strangers and report any person of suspicious movement. The police are always ready to ensure protection of lives and property and we are on the trail of the fleeing hoodlums.”
‘”These hoodlums are armed robbers, I therefore urged people in the community to be wary of strangers and report any person of suspicious movement. The police are always ready to ensure protection of lives and property and we are on trail of the fleeing hoodlums’ he stressed.
“Most people ran into the bush when the shooting and the bombing started. I believed they came in about ten cars and they overwhelmed the security in the town. In fact everybody was on his own during the attacks by the hoodlums who are armed robbers. I therefore urge people in the community to be wary of strangers and report any person of suspicious movement. The police are always ready to ensure protection of lives and property and we are on the trail of the fleeing hoodlums.”
Magaji added that during the operation conducted by his men, some amount of money and other valuables were recovered, adding that the police are combing the area in search of the hoodlums.
Residents, however, said the Sabon Gari Police station in Daura was completely razed during the attack.
