The Health Secretary of Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State, Sa’adu Dantutture, has been abducted and killed by suspected bandits in his hometown of Dantutture, in Kafur Local Government Area.
Dantutture, a former Director of Primary Healthcare in Funtua Local Government Area, was reportedly abducted shortly after returning to the community during an attack on Wednesday night.
An eyewitness, Kabir Ado Mai Unguwa, said the attackers stormed the community at about 11pm, looted several shops and took the health secretary away.
He said the bandits killed Dantutture as they attempted to leave the community.
“They first abducted him and took him away after looting some of our shops. But while they were leaving the village, they killed him,” the eyewitness said.
Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 17 Brigade, alongside local vigilantes, reportedly engaged the attackers during the incident. Three suspected bandits were said to have been killed, while another reportedly escaped after abandoning a weapon.
Dantutture was later buried in his hometown amid prayers and tears from relatives, colleagues and residents.
His widow, Fatima Sa’adu, described him as a humble man dedicated to serving his community and appealed to the government to intensify efforts to protect residents from bandit attacks.
The chairman of Funtua Local Government Area, Abdulmutallib Sulaiman Goya, who visited the family, described the deceased as an honest civil servant who devoted his life to serving humanity.
The deceased’s son, Mu’azzam Sa’adu, also called on the government and security agencies to take stronger action against banditry.
The Katsina State Police Command spokesman, DSP Sadik Aliyu, said he would verify the incident and respond. As of the time of filing, no further official confirmation had been provided.
The reported deaths of three suspected attackers and the abduction of two other residents could not be independently confirmed.
