Some bandits, who are also referred to as terrorists, launched an attack and abducted approximately 55 wedding guests who were escorting a bride home in Damari town, Sabuwa Local Government Area of Katsina State.

Residents confirmed on Friday that the attack took place on Thursday around 9pm.

The source further said that three local security volunteers lost their lives in the hurriedly coordinated effort to rescue the victims.

“Most of those the hoodlums attacked and abducted were those who were already crowded and riding in an open van called canter vehicle.

“The victims were initially over 70, mostly friends to the bride, in which several others escaped after jumping off the moving canter van when the terrorists hijacked the van,” he said.

Sabuwa local government area has been dealing with the presence of bandits and their accomplices, who are often informants.

The Chairman of Dandume Local Government Area, Alhaji Basiru Musa, confirmed the report.

While some unconfirmed reports suggest that a few kidnapped women managed to escape, the chairman promised to verify and provide updates.

He clarified that although the women were from Dandume, the bandits  intercepted them on their way from Sabuwa Local Government Area at around 9pm.

Sabuwa and Dandume are among the local government areas being heavily tormented by bandits in Katsina State.

In a related incident around the same time, gunmen reportedly from the Siddi forest, have been confirmed to have infiltrated  Tashar Nadaya, near the Gazari district border in Sabuwa LG.

The criminals were said to have killed a commercial motorcycle rider and made away with his bike.

It was also learnt that they opened fire on a group of four individuals and confiscated their motorcycles.