Bandits Kill Two Elders, Abduct Several Residents in Fresh Katsina Attack

Fresh violence erupted in Katsina State on Tuesday night when armed bandits stormed Doguwar Ɗorawa, a community located about two kilometres from Guga in Bakori Local Government Area, killing two elderly community leaders and abducting several residents.

The attack, which residents described as “gruesome and heartbreaking,” adds to the persistent wave of assaults that have devastated rural communities in the region — despite the state government’s much-publicised peace accord with the bandits.

Confirming the incident in a phone interview on Wednesday, a community leader from Guga, Mahadi Danbinta Guga, identified the victims as two respected elders of the village.

“Doguwar Ɗorawa was attacked yesterday (Tuesday) night. The bandits slaughtered two of the most influential elders — Alhaji Bishir and his brother, Alhaji Surajo,” Guga said.

He explained that the assailants invaded the community around 10 p.m. and operated freely for more than an hour, killing and abducting without any resistance.

“I’m on my way there now for their burial and to see the level of damage. Many people were abducted during the attack,” he added.

Expressing frustration, Guga lamented the frequency of such raids, describing them as a daily reality for residents of Bakori and surrounding areas.

“It’s now a normal thing to the bandits here. Hardly a day passes without an attack despite the so-called peace deal,” he said.

Local sources believe the attackers are linked to notorious bandit leaders Idi Abasu Aiki and Kwashen Garuwa, who have long terrorised the region.

“They parked their motorcycles in the bush and trekked into the village to unleash terror on innocent people,” another resident recounted.

Another Community Hit Same Night

In a related development, bandits also raided Layin ‘Yannehu community on the same night, carting away a large number of livestock.

The latest attacks follow a string of similar raids on Ganjar, Alhazawa, and Gidan Nagari communities two weeks ago, where 43 people were abducted, forcing several families to flee their homes.

Authorities Yet to Respond

As of press time, neither the Katsina State Government nor the Bakori Local Government Council had issued any statement on the renewed violence.

Residents continue to voice anger over what they describe as official silence and indifference in the face of worsening insecurity in Katsina’s southern zone.

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