The Chief Whip of the Katsina State House of Assembly, Ibrahim Umar Dikko, broke down in tears on the floor of the House while lamenting the worsening insecurity in Matazu Local Government Area of the state.

Speaking on the situation during plenary, Dikko, who represents Matazu constituency in the assembly, said bandits had taken control of eight out of the ten wards in his area, leaving residents in fear and farmers unable to access their farmlands.

?Out of the 10 wards, eight are under siege. Farmers cannot go to farms. Just yesterday, by the entrance of the town near the secondary school, they killed a young man and rustled four sets of oxen used for ploughing,? he said amid tears.

He further disclosed that in the past two days alone, at least 12 farmers were killed while working on their farms.

?Yesterday, they killed five farmers on their farm. A day before that, they killed seven farmers on their farms. Wallahi, the farms are inaccessible anymore, Mr. Speaker. We are in dire need of help, we need help,? he cried.

The lawmaker?s outburst speaks of the growing desperation among communities in Katsina State, which has in recent years remained one of the epicentres of banditry in the North-West region.

Bandit attacks have continued to plague Katsina State, leaving communities in fear and displacing thousands.

In recent months, armed groups have launched raids on villages, targeting farmers, traders, and rural dwellers.

Scores of people have been killed, livestock rustled, and properties destroyed, forcing many residents to flee their homes.

These attacks have disrupted farming and other economic activities, worsening food insecurity and poverty.

Despite ongoing military operations and security reinforcements, the bandits have persisted, often using forests as hideouts to launch fresh assaults.

In response, both state and federal governments have intensified efforts to restore peace, including deploying more security personnel, establishing local vigilante groups, and supporting displaced persons.

However, residents argue that while these measures bring temporary relief, sustained and coordinated action is required to dismantle the armed groups? networks.

Many have called for stronger intelligence-driven operations, improved community engagement, and long-term socio-economic interventions to address the root causes of insecurity in Katsina.

Security personnel inspecting level of damage during an attack in Marhaba village, Matazu LGA of Katsina State

Bandits attack 10 Sokoto communities, kill many, abduct others

Meanwhile, many people, including four personnel of the Sokoto State Community Guards, have been reportedly killed, while dozens of others were abducted in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State following a series of bandit attacks, Daily Trust gathered.

The attacks, believed to have been carried out by a dreaded bandit commander known as Kallamu, a loyalist of the notorious Bello Turji, affected no fewer than 10 communities between Wednesday and Saturday last week.

Locals said the armed men moved from village to village, killing, abducting, rustling cattle, and spreading fear.

The affected communities, Daily Trust learnt, include Dan Tudu, Lafinge, Gidan Bature, Makuwana, Turtsawa, Garki, Faru, Najingi, and Zannan Bango, among others.

Residents said the attackers killed many, abducted several villagers, and rustled more than 100 cows. They also blocked the Yankasuwa?Masawa road, abducting multiple travellers.

Confirming the incident via telephone, the Ward Head of Sabon Birni, Galadiman Gobir, Alhaji Abubakar Sulaiman, said at least eight people were killed in Dan Tudu and Makuwana villages.

He added that 16 people were abducted in Garki, 22 in Makuwana, and 12 others in Faji village, while several more ? mostly women and children ? were kidnapped in surrounding areas.

?The bandits killed four community guard personnel and a soldier in Dan Tudu village when they attacked a military facility. Up till Sunday, we could not ascertain the total number of abducted persons.

?Though some corpses have been recovered, we suspect more may have been killed in the bush. At present, we have confirmed eight deaths in Makuwana and Dan Tudu alone, but the toll in other villages remains unclear,? he said.

Another local source said many of the attacks took place at night, forcing residents to abandon their homes in fear of repeated assaults.

?Some villages were attacked two or even three times within the four days,? he added.

Makuwana, located just three kilometres from Sabon Birni town, and Garin Bature, three kilometres from Makuwana, were among the hardest-hit communities.

Residents said the bandits killed several people in Garin Bature, kidnapped others, and burned two vehicles belonging to the Nigerian Army and vigilantes before proceeding to Dan Tudu, where they rustled hundreds of cows.

?Dan Tudu has suffered relentless attacks since Wednesday. The bandits came daily, rustling livestock and terrorising the people. While no fresh deaths were recorded in one of the raids, large herds of cattle were stolen,? another villager recounted.

Residents further disclosed that the gunmen also ambushed travellers along the Yankasuwa?Masawa road on Wednesday, abducting dozens.

On Thursday, they stormed Garki village, killing one person, abducting 16 others, and rustling three cows.

By Friday, the criminals attacked Turtsawa and Faru villages, abducting 28 residents. As of three days after the raids, families of the kidnapped victims said no contact had been made by the bandits.

Confirming the incident, Sokoto State Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Musa, said only attacks on Makuwana and Gidan Bature communities had so far been officially confirmed.

?I can confirm the death of four Sokoto State Community Guard Corps (CGC) personnel during the Makuwana attack.

?The bandits also attacked a military facility, leading to these fatalities. I personally visited Sabon Birni and Goronyo for assessment and to sympathise with the affected families. In situations like this, we must gather accurate information on what truly happened,? he said. (Daily Trust)

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