Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A resident of Kankiya Local Government Area in Katsina State, Abdullahi Dalla, has recounted the horrifying ordeal he endured during a bandit attack on his community, describing how he sustained severe burns after the assailants trapped him beneath his own motorcycle. Dalla shared his painful experience during an interview on News Central TV on Friday, 10 July 2026, offering a harrowing glimpse into the brutality faced by rural communities in Katsina State, where armed groups have continued to unleash terror on defenceless residents.
Dalla recalled that the attack occurred while he was riding his motorcycle within his community, going about his daily routine when the assailants struck without warning. He explained that the attackers, who were heavily armed, quickly overpowered him and deliberately used his motorcycle to inflict injuries on him. In a moment of sheer cruelty, they placed the motorbike on his legs, causing severe burns to his thigh. "I was on my motorbike in my community when we were attacked. The attackers placed my motorbike on my legs resulting to burns on my thigh," Dalla narrated, his voice still carrying the weight of the traumatic experience. His account is one of several testimonies from residents affected by persistent terrorist and bandit attacks in parts of Katsina State, where communities have been subjected to repeated raids that have claimed countless lives and displaced thousands of families.
The attack on Dalla reflects the grim reality facing many rural communities across northern Nigeria, where armed groups have exploited the vast, ungoverned spaces to launch devastating assaults on defenceless villagers. In recent months, Katsina State has witnessed a surge in attacks by bandits who have intensified their campaign of terror, targeting farmers, travellers, and entire communities in a bid to impose their will through violence and intimidation. The attacks have left a trail of deaths, injuries, displacement, and destruction, with survivors often bearing both physical and emotional scars long after the violence has subsided.
Dalla's testimony has drawn attention to the urgent need for stronger security measures to protect vulnerable communities in Katsina State. The Katsina State Police Command has yet to issue an official statement on the incident or confirm whether an investigation has been launched to apprehend the attackers. However, the state government has faced mounting pressure from residents and civil society organisations to intensify security operations and bring the perpetrators to justice.
The attack also comes amid heightened security concerns in Katsina State following the arrest and detention of security analyst Dr Bashir Kurfi over allegations that he claimed the state government sponsored bandits to perform the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage. Kurfi has since denied making such claims, insisting that he only repeated public allegations and that the government should address them transparently. His detention has drawn sharp criticism from human rights groups and civil society organisations, who have condemned the arrest as an attack on freedom of expression.
As Dalla continues to recover from his injuries, his story serves as a stark reminder of the devastating toll of banditry on rural communities in Katsina State. His testimony underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive and sustained security response to protect vulnerable communities and restore peace to the region. For the people of Kankiya and other affected communities, the scars of these attacks, both visible and invisible, will take a long time to heal.
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