Gunmen Kill Katsina MACBAN Chairman Surajo Leader, Two Others In Kusada Attack

Gunmen killed the Katsina State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeder Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Surajo Leader, along with two others in Kusada Local Government Area over the weekend.

The attack took place on Saturday night when the gunmen entered the Mai Rana community in Kusada LGA. According to the sources, the gunmen also kidnapped two of the deceased's wives and his daughter, who was an undergraduate student, Premium Times reported.

The deceased has been buried following Islamic customs, but there is still concern in the area. The Katsina Police Command confirmed the incident, stating that police officers responded and exchanged gunfire with the attackers.

Before his death, Surajo was the state Secretary of MACBAN and was later promoted to acting Chairman of the Katsina State chapter. Reports suggest that Surajo became acting chairman after the mysterious disappearance of the association's National Vice President and Katsina State Chairman, Munnir Lamido, in June 2024.

National President of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria Baba Ngelzarma said on Sunday that the situation is "getting out of hand," adding that "our members who held leadership positions in Kogi, Benue, Nasarawa and Katsina have been targeted by gunmen," Punch reported.

He added, "Surajo was just three months in that position; his predecessor was kidnapped and we never heard anything about him. We call for the federal and state governments to ensure the protection of our members wherever they are."

The attackers also killed three more people and injured several others during the assault. The incident took place late Saturday night and continued into the early hours of Sunday when the criminals raided the village.

According to reports, the bandits also kidnapped two of Surajo's wives and one of his daughters, who is a university student. A source close to the incident, who asked to remain anonymous for security reasons, revealed that the attackers later released Surajo's first wife.

Although Kusada Local Government Area was not previously seen as a hotspot for insecurity in Katsina State, the attack has raised concerns. Some people are wondering if the incident was an act of terrorism or if there were other motives behind it, apart from banditry.

Last year in January, President Bola Tinubu condemned the surge in bandit attacks and kidnappings across Nigeria, calling these acts disturbing, ungodly and sinister, and emphasized that education is the remedy to the country's ongoing challenges.