Bandits Kill Two Elders, Abduct Several in Fresh Katsina Attack

The fragile peace in Katsina State has once again been shattered after armed bandits launched a deadly attack on Doguwar Dorawa, a small farming community near Guga in Bakori Local Government Area.

The assailants killed two respected elders and abducted several residents in an overnight raid that left the community in mourning.

Eyewitnesses said the attack occurred late Tuesday night when dozens of armed men riding motorcycles stormed the village, shooting sporadically and causing panic among residents.

The victims, identified as Alhaji Bishir and Alhaji Surajo, were well-known community figures and among the first to be targeted during the invasion.

Local sources revealed that the bandits operated freely for over an hour without any immediate security intervention. Several villagers were taken captive, while others fled into nearby bushes for safety. The attackers also reportedly looted food items and rustled livestock before escaping into the forest.

Mahadi Danbinta Guga, a community leader, confirmed the incident and lamented the continued wave of violence in the area despite government peace efforts.

“They killed our elders in cold blood and took away several people. We no longer sleep with both eyes closed. These attacks keep happening despite assurances of peace,” he said.

The latest violence comes just weeks after local authorities announced renewed peace talks aimed at curbing insecurity in parts of Bakori and neighbouring Funtua.

However, residents say the peace deal has failed to yield results, with attacks and kidnappings persisting across rural communities.

As of the time of reporting, neither the Katsina State Government nor the state police command had issued an official statement regarding the incident.

However, local vigilante groups were said to have begun a search operation in collaboration with security forces to rescue the abducted residents.

The recurring bandit attacks across Katsina and other parts of the North-West continue to raise concerns over the region’s deteriorating security situation.

Despite multiple military operations and community peace initiatives, rural dwellers remain frequent targets of kidnappings, killings, and property destruction.

For the people of Doguwar Dorawa, the latest tragedy serves as a painful reminder of their ongoing vulnerability, as calls intensify for stronger government action to restore safety and protect farming communities from further devastation.