Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A wave of grief has enveloped the agrarian settlements of Gidan Sarkin Noma and Gidan Wawu in Guga Ward, Bakori Local Government Area of Katsina State, after armed bandits launched a deadly attack that claimed the lives of at least 10 civilians, including a pregnant woman. The assault occurred on the evening of Sunday, May 17, 2026, while many residents were away from their homes, having travelled to Guga market ahead of the forthcoming Eid al‑Kabir celebrations. The attackers capitalised on the reduced presence of men in the villages, striking with brutal efficiency. Survivors told local reporters that the bandits burned houses, destroyed properties and rustled cattle, leaving the twin farming communities devastated and traumatised.
The identities of the victims have not yet been released by authorities, but community sources confirmed that a pregnant woman was among the dead. The bodies of the victims were taken to the Primary Health Centre in Guga, where they were prepared for burial on Monday morning, May 18, 2026. Residents of the affected settlements have been left in shock, with many questioning why their communities continue to be targeted despite repeated appeals for security reinforcement. The attack occurred just days before the Muslim Eid al‑Kabir festival, a period typically marked by communal gatherings, market visits and festive celebrations. For the families of the victims, the season of sacrifice has turned into a season of mourning.
The twin settlements of Gidan Sarkin Noma and Gidan Wawu are located in a rural corridor of Katsina State that has been repeatedly targeted by bandits over the past year. According to residents who spoke to reporters, the communities have suffered persistent attacks, with violence intensifying in the past two weeks. Just days before the Sunday massacre, five other residents were reportedly killed in separate incidents within the same general area. The frequency of the attacks has forced many farmers to abandon their fields, disrupted local economies and displaced families who now live in constant fear of the next raid.
The attack on Guga Ward is the latest in a series of deadly incidents that have plagued Katsina State in recent months. In April 2026, bandits killed 11 residents in the villages of Jeka da Kolo and Kwalgoro in Kankia LGA in a reprisal attack following a military operation. In early May, armed men abducted travellers along the Jikamshi‑Funtua road, which passes through Matazu LGA. In May 2026, bandits imposed a N10 million levy on seven villages in Matazu LGA, including Bauraji, Saba Sara and Doka, threatening further violence if the communities failed to pay. The pattern is consistent: bandits attack, security forces respond, the criminals flee into the vast Rugu Forest, which straddles Katsina, Zamfara and Kaduna states, and then return to strike again when the pressure eases.
Residents of Gidan Sarkin Noma and Gidan Wawu have expressed deep frustration with the security response. Many noted that the attackers operated for an extended period without any intervention, leaving the communities to fend for themselves. Calls to the Katsina State Police Command and military formations in the area reportedly went unanswered or were responded to after the attackers had already fled. The absence of a permanent security presence in the rural communities has left residents vulnerable, with many now calling for the deployment of additional troops and the establishment of military posts in the area.
The Katsina State Government has not yet issued an official statement on the Sunday attack, and the state police command had not responded to requests for comment at the time of this report. The Nigerian military, which has intensified operations under Operation FANSAN YAMMA, has recorded successes in other parts of the state, including the neutralisation of terrorists and the recovery of arms. However, the attack on Guga Ward suggests that the bandits retain the capacity to strike at will, particularly in remote rural areas where security presence is thin.
As the people of Gidan Sarkin Noma and Gidan Wawu bury their dead, the question that hangs over the communities is whether the government will take decisive action to prevent the next attack. For the families who lost loved ones, the answer has come too late. For the survivors, the hope is that the bloodshed will finally force authorities to move beyond reactive statements and deliver sustained protection. The body of the pregnant woman, buried alongside the other nine victims, is a grim reminder of the cost of inaction. And as the sun rises over Bakori LGA, the attackers remain at large, and the communities remain vulnerable.
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