Killing people in the name of revenge is not acceptable- President Buhari reacts to recent Katsina bandit attack

President Buhari has condemned the latest round of attacks on farmers by bandits in Damkal and Tsanwa villages in Batsari local government area of Katsina state, saying that killing people in the name of revenge is not acceptable.

33 people were reportedly killed in the attack carried out by suspected bandits in two villages in Batsari local government area of Katsina state on Friday February 14th. The bandits who struck at the time of prayer around 6:30pm in Tsauwa and Dankar villages, burnt several houses, animals and properties in the attack. Read here.

Reacting to the incident, the President in a statement released by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity Garba Shehu, warned that “no one in the country has a right to take laws into his hands by the way of self-help or revenge. Local communities that catch bandits should hand over the suspects to law enforcement authorities instead of meting out capital punishment, leading to a cycle of revenge and counter revenge.”

He urged community leaders and the local authorities to continue their efforts in partnership with law enforcement agencies that bring the surrender of bandits, leading to peace between farmers and herders.

“The authorities must be allowed to investigate and deal with any breach that occurs. There is no place for violence in a decent society,” said the President.

President Buhari prayed that God will comfort families that have lost loved ones in the attacks and repose the souls of the victims.