IDNN REPORT – TERROR IN KATSINA: SIX KILLED, DOZENS ABDUCTED IN FRESH BANDIT ATTACKS
By IDNN Security Desk | April 2025
NIGHT OF TERROR IN KATSINA: VILLAGES UNDER SIEGE
Deadly attacks returned to Katsina State this week, leaving at least six people dead and nearly 59 others kidnapped in a series of coordinated raids by armed bandits. The assaults struck multiple local government areas, spreading fear and grief across the region.
The most recent attack unfolded late Sunday night, around 10:30 p.m., when gunmen invaded Layin Gara village in Funtua LGA. They killed two residents and abducted 16 others before escaping into the forest.
“The attackers operated for hours without any resistance,” reported a local resident who spoke under the condition of anonymity.
💣 DANDUME MASSACRE: FOUR KILLED, DOZENS MISSING
Just 24 hours earlier, bandits on motorcycles launched another brutal attack in Maikuma village, Dandume LGA. Armed with sophisticated weapons, the assailants overran the community, killing four villagers and abducting around 43 people. Some estimates suggest the number may be closer to 45.
“They moved from house to house for hours before retreating into the forest with their victims,” a witness recalled.
Confirming the incident, Basiru Musa, Chairman of Dandume LGA, expressed deep concern:
“Over 100 bandits invaded the village. Their goal was clear — kill and abduct as many people as possible.”
🚫 SECURITY RESPONSE STYMIED BY RED TAPE
Upon learning of a potential threat, Musa promptly alerted the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and nearby military personnel. Although both units responded quickly, they reportedly faced restrictions that prevented them from pursuing the attackers beyond their authorized boundaries.
“The soldiers couldn’t follow the bandits into the forest because their mandate didn’t allow it,” Musa explained.
This incident once again exposed long-standing flaws in the coordination between local authorities and federal security agencies.
⚖️ LOCAL LEADERS DEMAND URGENT ACTION
Frustrated by recurring violence, Musa called on state and federal governments to adopt a more decisive and flexible security strategy.
“This is becoming routine — every week we bury our people. The state and federal governments must act with urgency,” he declared.
Security experts argue that unless authorities adapt quickly to the evolving methods used by rural bandits, public trust in Nigeria’s protection structures will continue to decline.
