Renewed bandit attacks hit Katsina, residents abandon communities

Katsina map

Despite peace accords between communities and armed bandits across many local government areas in Katsina State, the hoodlums have resumed attacks on communities in the state, raising doubts about the effectiveness of the agreements.

The fresh onslaughts have heightened anxiety in the state, with residents lamenting the resurgence of killings and abductions in spite of the peace deal brokered between the so-called “repentant bandits” and security-prone communities in the state.

This is coming amid controversy surrounding plans by the state government to release 70 suspected and convicted bandits in exchange for about 1,000 victims earlier freed by bandits under the reportedly community-driven peace arrangement.

The bandits are launching fresh onslaughts on communities in Dandume, Kankara, Faskari, Jibia, Funtua, Malumfashi, Kurfi and Dutsin-ma Local Government Areas of the state despite the rapprochement between them and residents of the affected areas.

In Dandume, the bandits attacked Kirijan, Unguwar Jika, Baraje, Kauran Pawa and Shugu communities in the wee hours of Thursday, 22nd January, 2026, abducting eight persons, including women and children, and injuring 11 others.

At Kankara, the armed bandits recently attacked a wedding motorcade in Unguwar Nagunda community of the local government area and killed no fewer than two farmers.

The attack, which occurred on Sunday night, left the bride and many others with varying gunshot injuries, while an unspecified number of wedding guests were reportedly abducted by the attackers during the invasion.

A resident of the community, Ibrahim Hassan, who confirmed the development to Arewa PUNCH in a telephone-laden interview, stated that the assailants invaded the community, firing sporadically, which triggered panic among the residents.

He said, “They (bandits) killed two people and injured many others, including the bride and her friends, and abducted 10 wedding guests. This incident further heightened fears over persistent insecurity in the Kankara local government area.”