Bandits kill 3 in Katsina community

A deadly attack by bandits left at least three people dead and five more wounded in the Dansarai community of Malumfashi Local Government Area in Katsina State. The assailants also abducted a woman and stole livestock, raiding the community around 5 pm on Friday and terrorizing residents for nearly five hours.

Shafiu Umar, a local resident, recounted to Daily Trust that the attackers arrived on 50 motorcycles, each carrying three armed men. They moved house to house, looting shops and causing widespread fear among the population. According to Umar, the bandits also stole mobile phones, food, clothes, and other valuable items during the assault.

The attack was suspected to be a retaliatory act for an incident that occurred three months prior, when residents confronted the bandits who sought to invade the community. Umar noted that the recent attack seems to be a response, as residents had put up resistance in the past. He explained that three residents lost their lives, while five others suffered gunshot wounds. Additionally, a woman was abducted during the incident.

Dansarai, situated in the eastern part of Malumfashi LGA, shares a border with Kano State's Gwarzo LGA. The community has experienced multiple attacks in recent years, resulting in fatalities, abductions, livestock theft, and the displacement of residents. Upon contacting the spokesperson for the Katsina State Police Command, DSP Sadiq Aliyu, he assured that he would verify the information and provide an update, though he had not done so by the time of filing this report.