By; SULAIMAN AHMED MISAU, Katsina
A Katsina State based renowned Independent Petroleum Marketer, Alhaji Abdulhamid popularly known as Baba Lado and his neighbour, Alhaji Sani Abdullahi have been killed by bandits in their home town Mairuwa of Faskari Local Government Area.
A one time official of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) Kaduna Depot, Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Cooperation (NNPC) was gunned down by the bandits while performing Tarawih (Asham) Prayers at his residence with members of his family and neighbours.
Late Baba Lado according to his family source, was forcefully made to abandon the prayers by the bandits and consequently, insisted not to abandon the prayers and follow the bandits to bush as they demanded him to do.
On the process of helping mission his neighbouring Alhaji Sani Abdullahi was also shot dead by the bandits, family members of the late Lado Mairuwa disclosed.
The bandits who attacked the residence of late Alhaji Lado Mairuwa last Saturday, March 23,2024 had also abducted one of his wives and his 14 year old daughter.
Governor Dikko Umaru Radda who sent a high powered delegation under Secretary to the Government of the State, Barrister Abdullahi Garba Faskari paid a condolence visit to the families of Alhaji Abdulhamid Baba Lado Mairuwa and Sani Abdullahi.
Governor Radda though Barrister Garba Faskari in a statement by the Director Press office of the Secretary to the state government, Abdullahi Aliyu Yar’adua described the act as callousness by savage criminals which must be condemned.
Governor Dikko Radda prayed to God to grant mercy and eternal rest to the souls of the slain victims and ensure the safety as well as the return of those abducted.
The governor who reiterated the intention of his administration to protect lives and property of the citizens, admonished people to fervently pray particularly in this sacred month of Ramadan for normalcy to return in the frontline areas of the State and the country as a whole.
Narrating the ordeal to the press, Umar Abdulhamid, an 18 year old child of late Alhaji Lado Mairuwa said that, the armed men who were in numbers suddenly crashed into the premises of their house around 8:00pm last Saturday while they were observing the evening prayer.
He said that, the bandits fired shots sporadically and tried to whisk away his father who vehemently resisted, and they shot him to death instantly.
Similarly he said, their neighbour Sani Abdullahi was gunned down by the attackers, when he went out shouting for help.
“Some of them bulldozed into our house and kidnapped my step mother Hajia Rabi and my young sister, Maryam Abdulhamid whom we have not heard of their whereabouts, yet”. He explained.
Residents of the area have appreciated the Governor Dikko Radda’s concern and the untiring efforts being made by his administration in tackling the security challenges in parts of the state.
However, they appealed particularly to the Federal Government to step up and take a decisive action in dealing with the bandits terrorising the area and the states in the North West.
A big time farmer and successful businessman, late Alhaji Lado Mairuwa left behind four wives, 26 children, while his neighbour, Alhaji Sani Abdullahi is survived by two wives and 20 children.
