Armed bandits have launched another deadly assault on Shuwaki community in Bakori Local Government Area of Katsina State, killing one resident, injuring seven others and abducting 31 people, mostly women and children.
The Saturday night invasion is the latest in a string of attacks that have continued to unsettle communities in the area, with recurring incidents of kidnappings, killings and cattle rustling forcing many residents to abandon their homes.
Former Chairman of Bakori Local Government Area, Aminu Magaji, said the attackers stormed the community between 9:00 p.m. and 9:45 p.m., operating for nearly two hours before leaving with their captives and stolen property.
According to him, the gunmen not only killed one resident and injured seven others but also rustled cattle, sheep and other valuables belonging to villagers.
Magaji disclosed that one of the abducted women was later abandoned near Doma Village after she became too weak to continue the journey into the forest, reducing the number of those still held captive to 31.
He explained that most of those kidnapped are women, including some carrying babies.
He added that security agencies were alerted during the attack, prompting a joint deployment of police officers, soldiers and members of the Katsina Community Watch Corps. However, the security team was unable to prevent the attackers from escaping or secure the release of the victims.
The former council chairman also revealed that the bandits carted away residents’ mobile phones, including devices left at charging centres. He noted that, as of the time of filing the report, the kidnappers had neither contacted the victims’ families nor demanded any ransom.
Residents said the latest attack came shortly after similar raids on Unguwar Dogo and Alhazawa communities, where several people sustained injuries and livestock were stolen.
Community members further lamented that repeated attacks since late July had displaced many families, while those still living in the area remained under constant fear of fresh invasions.
They also warned that the deteriorating security situation was affecting farming activities, as frequent cattle rustling had deprived many farmers of the animals they rely on for cultivation.
Meanwhile, the Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYM) has condemned the killing of a former councillor in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State during a separate late-night attack.
The association alleged that suspected armed Fulani attackers and bandits invaded Torok community on Sunday night and killed the former councillor, identified as Daniel Danjuma Chong.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Rwang Tengwon, the group claimed the attackers emerged from Kess, a Fulani settlement popularly known as Bangai-Fulani.
“The attackers, who reportedly came from Kess, a Fulani settlement popularly known as Bangai-Fulani, invaded the community at about 11pm, shooting sporadically, inflicted a fatal gunshot injury on Mr David Danjuma before fleeing the scene back to Bangai-Fulani.”
The association extended its condolences to the family of the deceased and called on security agencies and the Plateau State Government to apprehend those behind the attack and dismantle what it described as terrorist hideouts in Bangai-Fulani.
BYM also reiterated its demand for a total ban on open grazing, insisting that the practice has become a cover for terrorism and banditry in Riyom and other parts of Plateau State.
