No fewer than eighteen villagers have been feared killed when suspected terrorists clashed with local vigilantes in Katsina, Northwest, Nigeria.
The incident which occurred on Saturday night affected Majifa, Gurbi, Danmarke, Gidan- Anchor, Gidan- Saika, Dan- Mangoro, and Gidan- Sale communities in the Local Government Area of Katsina state.
Residents told reporters that search parties were still busy looking for casualties in the communities where the clashes occurred to determine the exact number of those who could have been killed.
It was learnt that while five people were killed in Gurbi, 13 people were killed at Majifa,Makera and Gidan Jifau settlements.
Eighteen others who. suffered injuries in the attacks were being treated at the General hospital,kankara as at Sunday afternoon.
An elder in the Makera community, who pleaded anonymity, told The Nation that the clashes allegedly started on Saturday evening during a wedding Walimat at Majifa attended by terrorists.
He said: ”The wedding was organised by a terrorists leader by name “Mai Kalifat Mutuwa.
”Some members of local vigilantes clashed with those at the wedding party among who, were the terrorists who came from Zamfara State.”
The terrorists who were said to have been piqued by the clash reportedly launched attacks on the other communities,resulting in the casualties.
When contacted,the spokesman for the Katsina police command,SP Gambo Isah said he could only confirm the clash at Majifa.
He added that details surrounding the incident were still sketchy as of Sunday afternoon.