President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the attack on vigilantes at Yargoje forest in Katsina State’s Kankara Local Government Area, which claimed many lives.
The insurgents ambushed a convoy of vigilantes on their way to recover stolen cows in the forest, killing 41 of them.
The president paid tribute to all those martyred vigilantes and family members in a statement issued by his spokesman, Garba Shehu, on Sunday.
He said that the sacrifices of the brave men who were working to prevent and punish crime in their communities would not be forgotten.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families in this difficult period. May Allah repose the soul of the deceased,” said the President.
Last Wednesday, vigilantes chased after terrorists who rustled cows, but they were defeated.
The slain vigilante operatives were from 11 villages in Kankara local government of the state, Katsina Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Gambo Isah said in a statement on Friday.