Katsina Residents Repel Bandits as 10 Fleeing Civilians Killed

Katsina Residents Repel Bandits as 10 Fleeing Civilians Killed

Residents of Gurbi community in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State mounted a coordinated resistance against bandits, successfully preventing the attackers from gaining entry into the town, but not without casualties as at least 10 people were killed in the surrounding area.

Local sources said the assailants stormed the area in the evening, sparking panic among residents. However, villagers quickly mobilised in defence of their homes, forcing the bandits to retreat from Gurbi after failing to breach the community.

A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the attackers redirected their violence toward fleeing civilians.

According to him, the bandits opened fire on residents attempting to escape, killing multiple people in nearby Nagodi village.

“As I speak to you now, there are more than 10 corpses in Nagodi area, which is a village in front of Gurbi. After they left, the dead bodies were transported back to Gurbi,” he said.

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Another source close to the palace of the community leader confirmed that the bandits were unable to infiltrate Gurbi due to the resistance mounted by locals, but noted that those who fled were exposed to deadly attacks.

The incident has further raised concerns over delayed response by security agencies. Residents claimed that authorities had been alerted ahead of the attack following intelligence reports but failed to act promptly.

“We had earlier alerted security operatives when we heard rumours of the attack, but they did not respond until after our people were killed. Only then did they arrive and begin evacuating the bodies,” the source added.

Security operatives were later deployed to the area to restore calm and assist in evacuation efforts, though officials are yet to release an official casualty figure or detailed statement on the incident.

The attack comes amid a renewed wave of banditry in Kankara, an area that has experienced repeated security breaches in recent weeks. Just days earlier, suspected bandits reportedly attacked Zangon Kankara, setting houses and a vehicle ablaze and abducting two residents.

Kankara has remained one of the flashpoints in Katsina State, with rural communities frequently targeted by armed groups involved in kidnappings, raids, and other violent crimes.

As of the time of filing this report, neither the police nor the office of the state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Nasiru Mu’azu, had issued an official statement.

The situation remains tense, with residents calling for improved security presence and faster response to intelligence warnings to prevent further loss of lives.

Katsina Residents Repel Bandits as 10 Fleeing Civilians Killed