There was fresh tension in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State on Monday after armed bandits attacked Gidan Dufe village, killing a woman, injuring several people, and stealing cattle.
Local sources confirmed that the attack was carried out by a group of bandits led by one Sanusi Dan Dutsinma, who is believed to be operating from Babaro village, also in Kankara LGA.
The bandits stormed the village in large numbers, shooting sporadically and causing panic among residents. During the raid, one woman was reportedly killed while others suffered various degrees of injuries. An unspecified number of cows and other livestock were also carted away by the attackers.
The incident has left the local community in shock, with many residents now living in fear of further attacks. Community members who spoke with reporters called on the government and security agencies to act swiftly to protect lives and property in the area.
“We are tired of these attacks. The government must come to our aid before more lives are lost,” one resident said.
This latest attack adds to the growing list of security challenges in Katsina State, where rural communities continue to suffer repeated assaults by armed groups. The affected areas are often hard to access, making security response slow and difficult.
Kankara LGA has been one of the hotspots of banditry in Katsina State. In recent years, villages within the local government have experienced regular attacks involving killings, abductions, and cattle rustling. In December 2020, over 300 students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, were kidnapped by armed men in a similar raid.
While security forces have carried out operations to flush out criminal elements in the region, locals say more needs to be done to secure remote communities like Gidan Dufe and Babaro.
As at the time of filing this report, no official statement had been released by the police or the Katsina State Government regarding the incident. However, residents are appealing for increased military presence and regular patrols in the area.
The security situation in the North-West region, particularly in states like Katsina, Zamfara, and Kaduna, remains a major concern as bandits continue to terrorise rural communities with little resistance.
