Katsina Bandit Attack Leaves Farmers Dead and Livestock Stolen

At least 28 people, including 24 farmers, three residents, and a member of the local community watch corps (C’watch), have been killed in a series of coordinated attacks by armed bandits in Katsina State’s Kankara Local Government Area.

According to local residents who spoke anonymously to Daily Trust on Thursday, June 19, the deadly assaults began about six days ago when armed groups stormed farming communities in Yargoje, Kwakware, Danmarke, Gidan Dawa, and Burdugau.

“They killed about 20 farmers, kidnapped several others, and stole the animals used for tilling the land,” one resident said.

The violence continued on Monday when bandits launched another attack in Marmara village. In the ensuing gunfight, one C’watch member was killed and two members of the civilian JTF sustained injuries.

“They also entered the village itself and killed three people,” a separate source confirmed.

That same Monday night, the attackers targeted additional communities east of Kwakware, abducting residents and rustling livestock. The exact number of those kidnapped remains unknown.

Residents suspect the wave of violence may be linked to recent peace agreements reached in some neighbouring local government areas, suggesting that areas without such accords remain vulnerable.

“As long as peace deals are not comprehensive and uniform, the bandits will continue to exploit gaps and strike where they have no agreements,” a local man from Kankara warned.