No fewer than 20 people have been taken into captivity by armed bandits following an attack on the Gidan Sarki community in Tuge Ward of Musawa Local Government Area, Katsina State.
The attackers reportedly stormed the community, abducting residents from their homes to unknown destinations and killing several others after opening fire indiscriminately.
Victims were said to have died from gunshot wounds sustained while attempting to flee for safety as the assailants invaded their homes.
Many residents, including women and children, were forced to abandon their homes in search of refuge in neighbouring villages, forests, graveyards, and abandoned wells, in a desperate bid to evade possible follow-up attacks.
In addition to the abductions and killings, the armed men reportedly looted livestock, worsening the economic hardship of families already grappling with ongoing security threats.
A security alert platform, Bakatsine, confirmed the attack on Tuesday, noting that it occurred despite a purported peace agreement between local stakeholders and the armed groups.
“This attack underscores the fragility and apparent failure of such peace agreements, as communities promised safety continue to come under violent assault,” Bakatsine stated, highlighting the erosion of trust in these arrangements.
Residents who managed to escape expressed deep frustration, with one community member lamenting, “We question the rationale behind ongoing peace deals with armed groups that continue to terrorize civilians.”
The exact number of fatalities remains unclear due to limited access to the area and the mass displacement of residents.
Meanwhile, The Guild reports that the abduction is part of a persistent pattern of banditry in Katsina State, where mass kidnappings, killings, and raids have continued despite repeated claims by authorities that security measures are improving.
As of the time of filing this report, no official response has been issued by the Katsina State government or the police regarding the incident or efforts to rescue the abducted victims.
