Armed bandits attacked Gora Village in the Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State, killing the community’s local vigilante leader, Alhaji Nuhu Barau.

According to a statement released on Thursday by the Katsina State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Sadiq, the Malumfashi Divisional Police Headquarters received a distress call about the invasion around 10:00 am.

The Divisional Police Officer immediately mobilized and led a joint team of operatives to the scene, where they successfully repelled the attackers and foiled the assault.

Regrettably, the bandits had already fatally shot Alhaji Nuhu Barau before the security team arrived. The attackers also rustled between four and six cattle during the raid.

The killing of the respected community leader sparked outrage, leading to violent reprisal attacks across three communities: Gora, Gidan Barau, and Gidan Maga.

By 5:00 pm that evening, angry youths blocked a section of the crucial Malumfashi–Katsina highway, disrupting transit for several hours and damaging several houses. The unrest left seven people injured with machete wounds, all of whom were taken to a medical facility in Dayi for treatment.

The DPO of Malumfashi, alongside military personnel, eventually cleared the highway blockade and restored order. The police command has intensified surveillance and patrols in the area to apprehend the fleeing suspects.