Hundreds of bandits have moved into two local government areas in Katsina State after they abandoned their base in Zamfara State.
The citizens living in and around Safana and Batsari Local Government Areas of Katsina State are now gripped with fear as felons continue to move into their surroundings.
The criminals led by a notorious bandit, Dan-Karami, were escaping from military onslaught in Zamfara, villagers said.
They were said to have moved into Tsaskiya, Runka, Gora, Labo and other communities in the two local government areas.
Locals said the terrorists have teamed up with another notorious bandit, Usman Moɗi-Moɗi, who has been terrorising residents of the area.
The heavily armed bandits are in large numbers and are moving with many herds of cattle, witnesses revealed.
“About a thousand of them who came on about 300 motorcycles spent Saturday night in Labo village,” a reliable source told the News Agency of Nigeria.
He added that the terrorists were spread in at least five villages on the fringes of Rugu forest between Safana and Batsari as well as part of Zamfara.
The source however said what was not clear was whether the bandits were in transit or setting up a new base in the area.
The villagers appealed to the military and Katsina State Government to respond promptly and deny the terrorists any space to operate.
Dankarami and his gang were known for raiding villages and towns in Zamfara and attacking security personnel.
A community leader told NAN on condition of anonymity that some of the villagers have started relocating to avoid being caught up in the impending disaster.
He urged the military to deploy its land and air assets to decimate the terrorists before they wreck more havoc.
“If nothing is done immediately, these terrorists will pose a serious security threat to many surrounding local government areas, including the state capital.
“There are many of them and they are heavily armed. Government should respond with decisive fire power to save the people,” he added. NAN