A fresh wave of bandit violence has struck Bakori Local Government Area of Katsina State, where armed attackers killed one resident, injured at least seven others and abducted 31 people during a late-night raid on Shuwaki community.
The attack, which occurred on Saturday, reportedly lasted for nearly two hours. According to local sources, the gunmen initially abducted 32 residents but later released one woman who was too ill to continue the journey, leaving 31 captives, most of them women, in the hands of the attackers.
Former Chairman of Bakori Local Government Area, Aminu Magaji, said the assailants stormed Shuwaki in Jargaba Ward between 9:00 p.m. and 9:45 p.m., opening fire on residents before making away with livestock and dozens of hostages. He disclosed that several of the abducted women were carrying infants.
Magaji said security agencies were alerted while the attack was ongoing. According to him, police officers, members of the Katsina Community Watch Corps, and soldiers mobilised to the area in an effort to block the attackers’ escape routes. Despite deploying several patrol vehicles, the security teams were unable to rescue the victims or intercept the fleeing gunmen.
The latest assault comes just days after neighbouring communities, including Unguwar Dogo and Alhazawa, were also attacked. Local resident Mahadi Guga, who has been documenting incidents in the area, said repeated raids since late July have resulted in multiple deaths, kidnappings and widespread livestock theft.
The worsening insecurity has forced many residents to flee their homes. Magaji revealed that families from Unguwar Dogo had already relocated to safer communities, while many people in Shuwaki were packing their belongings out of fear of another attack.
Beyond the humanitarian impact, the persistent violence is threatening farming activities during the rainy season. Residents say repeated cattle rustling has deprived farmers of the animals traditionally used for cultivation, leaving many to rely on manual labour. The latest raid reportedly saw the remaining livestock in Shuwaki stolen by the attackers.
As of the time of filing this report, the Katsina State Police Command had not issued an official statement on the incident. Authorities are yet to confirm the casualty figures, rescue efforts or any arrests, while residents continue to appeal to the Federal Government and the Katsina State Government for stronger security across the affected communities.
