JUST IN: Many Feared Killed, Abducted As Terrorists Attack Katsina

Bandits have attacked Gidan Sarki community in Tuge Ward, Musawa Local Government Area of Katsina State, killing several residents, abducting more than 20 people.

Meanwhile the bandits carted away livestock in a violent raid that has forced entire communities to flee their homes. It was gathered that the deadly attack occurred on Monday, plunging the affected communities into fear and displacement.

Following the assault, families, including women, children and the elderly, were forced to abandon their homes and now sleep in forests, graveyards, abandoned wells, on rooftops and under trees for fear of further attacks. A security alert platform, Bakatsine, confirmed the incident on Tuesday, noting that the attack occurred despite an existing peace deal reportedly reached between Musawa Local Government stakeholders and the armed groups operating in the area.

According to the alert, the attack underscores the fragility and apparent failure of such peace agreements, as communities that were promised safety continue to come under violent assault. However, several residents were reportedly killed during the invasion, while more than 20 people were taken away by the attackers to unknown locations.

The exact number of casualties could not be independently verified at the time of filing this report, as many residents have fled and security access to the area remains limited. Community members expressed anger and frustration over the continued attacks, questioning the rationale behind ongoing peace deals with armed groups that continue to terrorise civilians. The attack is one of the violent incidents in Katsina State, where banditry, mass abductions and killings have persisted despite repeated assurances by authorities that security has improved.

As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official statement from the Katsina State government or the police regarding the attack or efforts to rescue those abducted.