Bandits kill one and kidnap 31 in Katsina community attack

Armed bandits attacked the Shuwaki community in Bakori Local Government Area of Katsina State on Saturday. They killed one person, injured at least seven others, and kidnapped 32 more.

The attackers later released one woman who was sick and could not continue with the group. This left 31 people in their custody, mostly women, according to a former local government chairman.

This raid is part of a series of attacks on nearby communities in Bakori. Many residents have fled their homes, raising serious concerns about farming and local businesses.

Mahadi Guga, a resident, has been keeping track of these attacks. He told PREMIUM TIMES that Unguwar Dogo and Alhazawa were attacked the night before the Shuwaki incident.

Guga said other communities in Bakori have faced attacks since late July. These incidents have led to deaths, abductions, and the theft of livestock.

‘Attack lasted nearly two hours’

Aminu Magaji, a former chairman of Bakori Local Government Area, described the Shuwaki attack in an interview on JBC Hausa. He said the attackers struck between 9 p.m. and 9:45 p.m., lasting for about one and a half to two hours.

"They killed one person and injured at least seven others whom they shot," he said in Hausa. "They also took cattle and sheep and abducted 32 people."

Magaji mentioned that the attackers later released one abducted woman near Doma village because she was ill. He said they then headed toward the forest with the other captives.

Most of the 31 remaining hostages were women, some of whom were carrying babies. Magaji did not say if the babies were included in the total.

No ransom demand or communication had been received from the attackers at the time of the interview. He also noted that the bandits took mobile phones from residents and charging centres during the raid.

Security response

Magaji stated that he contacted the divisional police officer in Bakori and members of the Katsina Community Watch Corps while the attack was ongoing. Local security personnel gathered around the eastern part of Jargaba, while the police officer reached out to soldiers who tried to block the attackers’ escape routes.

He said security personnel were deployed in at least five vehicles but could not intercept the attackers or rescue the victims. "The security personnel went there and made every effort, but they could not overpower them and stop them from taking the people away," he said.

It remains unclear if there was a gunfight between the security forces and the attackers or how they escaped with the captives despite the security's efforts.

Attacks on successive nights

Guga noted that the Shuwaki attack followed the assaults on Unguwar Dogo and Alhazawa on July 31. He mentioned that one person was seriously injured during those attacks, and livestock and other belongings were stolen.

Magaji said residents fled Unguwar Dogo after the assault, with some moving to Bakori and Funtua towns, while others sought safety in nearby villages.

Some Shuwaki residents also began packing their things to leave after the mass abduction. "Everyone in Shuwaki is frightened," Magaji said. "Some people have started packing their belongings and leaving the area as I speak."

Guga added that suspected bandits attacked Unguwar Dangida in Kandarawa Ward and Gangaren Makurdi in Jargaba Ward on July 24. One person was reportedly killed, and livestock was stolen from both communities.

He said the following night, bandits raided Rawul in Kurami/Yankwani Ward, killing two brothers and abducting nine people, including eight women. One of the deceased's daughters was among those taken, according to Guga.

PREMIUM TIMES could not independently verify the death and abduction figures from all the incidents reported by Guga.

Guga confrontation

The latest attacks happened days after a significant clash between suspected bandits and security personnel in Guga on July 26. The Katsina State Government reported that over 200 attackers invaded the community around 5:40 p.m. in a reprisal.

They claimed that joint security forces killed more than 40 suspected bandits, including some commanders, while five hunters died during the confrontation. The government said normalcy had been restored in those communities.

However, an unnamed Guga resident interviewed by JBC Hausa said five hunters and one Community Watch Corps member were killed, raising the number of defenders killed to six. The resident stated that the hunters and Community Watch Corps personnel confronted the attackers at the outskirts and stopped them from entering the main part of Guga.

The difference in numbers between the government’s report and the residents’ account had not been resolved as of the time of this report. The subsequent attacks on Unguwar Dogo, Alhazawa, and Shuwaki have raised more worries about security in the communities around Guga.

Farming and livelihoods threatened

Magaji said repeated livestock theft and fear of attacks have hurt farming during the rainy season. Many residents have lost their cattle, which they usually use for farming, and now they have to work by hand.

The attackers took some of the few animals left in Shuwaki during the August 1 raid. "People were already in difficulty because there were no cattle left for cultivation," Magaji said. "People were farming with their hands, and now the few remaining cattle have been taken."

An unnamed Guga resident interviewed after the July 26 attack also mentioned that insecurity has affected farming, livestock rearing, and business activities in the community. The resident pointed out that the bad condition of the road linking Bakori, Guga, and Kakumi makes it hard to move and could slow down security personnel during attacks.

Magaji urged the federal, Katsina State, and Bakori local governments to improve security in the affected areas. He warned that if attacks continue, more residents will leave and farmers will not be able to work their land. "If they attack one village today and displace it, they move to another village tomorrow," he said. "If nothing is done, people will leave this entire area and abandon their communities."

Police yet to respond

The spokesperson for the Katsina State Police Command, Abubakar Aliyu, did not reply to a WhatsApp message and text from PREMIUM TIMES asking for confirmation of the death and abduction figures. The newspaper also inquired about the security response during the attack, ongoing efforts to rescue the captives, and whether any arrests or recoveries had been made.

Aliyu had not responded by the time this report was filed.