Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Katsina, Nigeria — Violence erupted in Unguwar Gambo and Gawo communities, located in Yaba ward, Malumfashi Local Government Area, last night as armed bandits launched coordinated attacks, leaving several residents killed and injured. The assailants also abducted a number of inhabitants and rustled a large quantity of livestock, according to local reports.
The incident underscores persistent insecurity in Katsina State, despite multiple peace agreements previously brokered between bandits and community leaders. Local authorities had reportedly secured commitments from armed groups in efforts to reduce attacks and foster stability, but the latest assault highlights the fragility of such arrangements and the continued threat posed to rural populations.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as bandits on motorcycles and other vehicles moved through the communities, firing indiscriminately and taking residents hostage. Livestock, including cattle, goats, and sheep, were driven away, further deepening economic losses for families dependent on animal husbandry.
Residents expressed frustration and fear, noting that repeated agreements and negotiations with the bandits had failed to prevent recurrent attacks. “We have tried to live in peace, even signing pacts with these criminals, but every time we think there is calm, they return with worse violence,” said a community elder who requested anonymity for safety reasons.
Security forces, including personnel from the Nigeria Police Force and local vigilante groups, have been called in to respond to the attacks and rescue the abducted victims. Efforts to track the perpetrators and recover stolen livestock are ongoing, though officials acknowledge the challenges posed by the rugged terrain and the mobility of the bandits.
The Katsina State government and law enforcement agencies have repeatedly urged communities to cooperate with security operations and report intelligence on bandit movements. Despite these efforts, residents continue to live under the shadow of insecurity, with repeated attacks undermining confidence in local peace initiatives.
This latest incident adds to a growing record of rural violence in northern Nigeria, raising renewed calls for sustained government intervention, enhanced intelligence gathering, and long-term strategies to address the root causes of banditry, including poverty, unemployment, and weak law enforcement presence in remote areas.
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