The Katsina State Police Command has launched a manhunt for those responsible for the murder of Aliyu Yahaya, a member of the Nigerian Hunters Association, in Jibia local government area.
ASP Abubakar Sadiq, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, confirmed the ongoing investigation on Wednesday morning, stating, “Efforts are ongoing to arrest the perpetrators as the investigation proceeds.”
On August 13, suspected terrorists attacked Yahaya’s residence in Magamar-Jibia, Mazanya district of Jibia LGA. They shot him, set his body on fire, and abducted his wife, son, and three neighbors.
A family member, Salisu Yahaya, recounted the harrowing incident, saying, “Around 2:00 a.m. on August 13, 2024, armed terrorists scaled the wall of Aliyu’s home, shot him dead, and set his body ablaze inside his room. Despite being fatally wounded, he tried to protect his family from being kidnapped, but the assailants overpowered him and whisked away his family.”
A colleague of the deceased, Basiru Muhammad, expressed profound grief over the loss of Aliyu Yahaya, describing him as a dedicated and patriotic individual who died while serving his community.
Muhammad also urged for immediate security measures to prevent similar tragedies in the area and across the state.
Neighbor Amadu Bello, whose two wives and mother-in-law were among those abducted during the attack, has appealed to the authorities to prioritize the rescue of his family members.
“I urge the government to take immediate action to safeguard residents from terrorist activities. The lack of adequate security personnel has contributed to the frequency of such attacks in our communities,” he lamented.
Adding his voice, a traditional titleholder in the area, Aminu Dan Mugyanbo, stressed the importance of decisive action from the state governor, Dikko Radda, to address the security challenges plaguing Magamar-Jibia and other parts of the Jibia Local Government Area.
“As we grapple with the devastating impact of this and many other attacks on our community, we will continue to support the efforts of local vigilante groups in protecting lives,” he stated.