No fewer than 24 people have been killed by bandits in separate attacks on communities in Katsina State, affecting Musawa and Kankia local government areas.
The latest incident occurred on Monday evening at Jikamshi market in Musawa LGA, where seven people were shot dead as traders were closing for the day. The attack came as military forces reportedly neutralised 45 terrorists during a gun battle in Danmusa LGA.
Witnesses said about 15 armed men on motorcycles stormed the market, opened fire, and looted goods worth millions of naira.
A resident and chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria in Musawa LGA confirmed that the victims were buried according to Islamic rites.
He described the attack as devastating and called for urgent intervention by authorities.
“The scale of the attack is enormous. We believe in the efforts of the state government, but the situation is beyond its control. There must be moral, financial and military support from the federal government,” he said.
Among those killed was Tukur Aliyu, who had just returned from Lagos after attending his daughter’s wedding. Family sources said he left behind three wives, about 20 children and several dependents.
One of his wives, who spoke anonymously, lamented the family’s uncertain future.
“Our lives are in danger now. He was our breadwinner, struggling to keep the family going. Now he is gone, we don’t know how we will survive,” she said.
Another victim, 35-year-old trader Rabi’u Ashiru, who dealt in phones and recharge cards, was killed in his shop at Bakin Kasuwa, Jikamshi. He was reportedly preparing for his wedding.
His father, Ashiru Ba Zama, said the loss had left the family devastated.
“We are completely confused. We have lost a pillar of the family. He paid school fees, fed us and catered to our needs. We don’t know what to do,” he said.
A former member of the Jikamshi security committee, Bilyaminu Abubakar, described the attack as a calculated attempt to destabilise the area.
“Those who claimed to have repented but did not lay down their arms are still terrorising our communities. Authorities are aware, but nothing tangible is being done,” he alleged.
Another victim, Umar Salisu, 55, left behind about 16 children and two wives. His family described the incident as devastating.
“Let me tell you we’re finished; the future of this family is uncertain,” his wife, Amina, said.
His friend, Nura Jikamshi, called for immediate government intervention to prevent a humanitarian crisis and appealed for support for the victims’ families.
In a separate attack over the weekend, about 17 residents of Gwalgoro village in Kankia LGA were reportedly killed by bandits, with many women and children fleeing the area.
While the Katsina State government put the death toll at 11, residents insisted that 17 people were killed.
“Death or killing is not something you can exaggerate for whatever reason, morally and religiously, so the exact number is 17 as I told you,” a resident said.
The state’s Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Nasiru Mu’azu, explained that the violence began on May 2 after intelligence reports indicated that a notorious bandit leader, identified as Mohammadu, was advancing with armed men toward key bridges in the area.
Security operatives, led by the Divisional Police Officer in Kankia, intercepted the attackers, neutralised several of them, and recovered motorcycles and rustled cattle.
However, the bandits later regrouped and launched a reprisal attack on Gwalgoro village, killing residents in what the government described as a “cowardly assault on innocent civilians.”
Following the Jikamshi attack, residents staged protests, blocking roads, burning tyres, and expressing frustration over what they described as inadequate government response.
Witnesses said the attackers operated in groups, with one group engaging local security operatives to create a diversion while others attacked residents and traders.
Some victims reportedly included a motorcyclist returning from the market, a driver, a female passenger, and a child.
A community source said members of the Community Watch Corps managed to neutralise one attacker, though his body was later taken away by accomplices.
Residents called for increased security presence, including deployment of more personnel and establishment of a mobile police base.
“We need a stronger security presence. This situation is beyond the capacity of the Community Watch Corps. We appreciate the armoured vehicle provided earlier, but more needs to be done,” a resident said.
The Katsina State Police Command confirmed the Gwalgoro attack and said joint security operatives had been deployed to pursue the perpetrators.
“There will be no hiding place for criminals in Katsina State,” the command said.
