Bandits kill 11, abduct others in Katsina communities

Bandits have killed at least 11 people, injured several others, and abducted residents from various communities in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State. 

The attacks have also hampered farming activities, leaving residents unable to access their crops. 

Local sources revealed that four individuals were killed and one injured in Ammarawa village during an early morning raid on Wednesday. 

Around the same time, bandits attacked Dan Gani village, killing one person and abducting seven others. In Tudu village, a woman named Saude was kidnapped around 9 a.m. on the same day. 

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Earlier, on Monday, four people were killed and others injured during an attack on Kukasheka village, also in Kankara LGA. 

Residents expressed their growing frustration, lamenting that bandits have made it nearly impossible to safely harvest crops. 

One resident recounted a personal tragedy, explaining that his father was attacked on the family farm just two days after his brother had been killed by the same group.

He said his father, who sustained a severe head injury, died nine days later in the hospital. 

When contacted, Katsina State Police spokesperson, ASP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, promised to investigate the attacks but had not provided further details by the time of filing this report.

Kankara has been a hotspot for banditry for years, with terrorists continuing to wreak havoc despite ongoing security efforts. 

To combat the escalating violence, the Katsina State government launched the Community Watch Corps, a local security initiative that has helped reduce the frequency and scale of the attacks. 

However, the bandits continue to demonstrate their resilience, carrying out brazen attacks in broad daylight. 

Just last Friday, they attempted to attack Dan Ali village in Danmusa LGA during Friday prayers but were repelled by the Community Watch Corps in coordination with other security forces.