KASTINA WOMEN IN IDP CAMP NARRATE HOW THEY WERE RAPED AND SACKED OUT THEIR HOMES

She said, “I watched helplessly as four of the bandits had their way with my daughter-in-law after tearing her clothes in the presence of her two children. I received the worst beating of my life when I opened my mouth in tears to plead for leniency.
“Three of the bandits descended on me with heavy punches while one of them, who had overpowered my daughter-in-law, raped her mercilessly not minding the flow of tears on our faces.
“By the time the four hoodlums were through with their victim, they had inflicted serious injuries on her private part while they left me with a broken arm and swollen face.”
Other women in the camp, who identified themselves as Mariam Abdulhamid, Saadiya Zamani and Murjanatu Aminu, also narrated their sordid experiences in the hands of the bandits. They, however, protested when our correspondent attempted to take their pictures, citing security reasons.
A top official of the Batsari Local Government Area, who spoke omn condition of anonymity, further revealed that  it took the intervention of a joint military and police team, drafted to the community, before the women and their children were saved from the bandits.
The LG official said the hoodlums left behind two motorcycles as they could not withstand the fire power of the security operatives who confronted them.
One of the women however told our correspondent that the bandits had sent messages to the community, threatening to return on another mission with a view to retrieving their abandoned motorcycles.
She said, “In order not to take chances, we are here with our children. The soldiers and the policemen had to evacuate all of us and brought us to this Batsari Model School premises where we are being taken care of by the LGA officials.
“Some of our men who were in their farms while the unfortunate incident happened, however, stayed back in the community to alert security operatives whenever the bandits reappear.
“Here in the school premises, the LGA officials made necessary arrangements for our accommodation and our feeding. At least, they feed us and the children, good meal, three times daily since Tuesday that we got here.
“Some medical personnel from the council have also been coming to provide medical attention. The local vigilante and security personnel are also on the ground to provide security.”
Other women, who also spoke on conditions of anonymity, said the raid on their community by the bandits, became rampant in the last three months.
One of them said, “The bandits usually come any time. They could come in the morning, afternoon and at night. They would come with all sorts of big guns and ammunition.
Another woman said the bandits rustled cattle in the community and take them to the surrounding hills and thick forest.
One of the women, who refused to mention her name, said, “When the bandits could not get enough cattle again, they resorted to the raiding of the community and kidnapping the inhabitants.
According to sources, Madugana ward, Rumja ward, Darumi Magaji–Abu ward, Yoyo ward, Kandama ward, Wagini ward and Abado Kagara ward had been invaded at one time or the other by the bandits.
Reports said,  the bandits always armed themselves with AK 47 rifles and other  heavy ammunition while at times, they reportedly had superior fire power than the security operatives who are expected to tackle them.