At least four residents have lost their lives while no fewer than 12 others have been taken hostage following renewed bandit attacks on several communities in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State.
Findings indicate that the most recent violence occurred late on Friday night when armed assailants invaded Dan Nakwabo and Madobai villages, raising questions over the effectiveness of a recently announced peace arrangement in the area.
Eyewitnesses and a security analyst based in Katsina, Malam Bakatsine, said the attackers arrived around 9:00 p.m., shooting into the air as they moved through the villages and throwing residents into panic.
In Dan Nakwabo, two people—a man and a woman—were reportedly killed during the raid. The victims were said to be children of a prominent businessman in the area, Alhaji Dan Azimi. The attackers also kidnapped two other villagers before fleeing.
In nearby Madobai village, no fatalities were reported, but four residents were abducted in what locals described as a well-organised operation believed to have been carried out by the same group of bandits.
Residents said the gunmen encountered no immediate resistance and operated unhindered for several minutes before disappearing into surrounding forest areas.
Survivors of the attacks described scenes of chaos, with families either running into nearby bushes for safety or barricading themselves indoors as gunfire echoed through the communities.
By Saturday morning, the two victims killed in Dan Nakwabo had been laid to rest in accordance with Islamic traditions, amid widespread mourning and frustration among residents.
A community member lamented that the incident had destroyed the fragile sense of security that had followed recent negotiations between authorities and armed groups.
Beyond the Friday night assault, sources disclosed that attacks across Kankara communities in recent days have pushed the death toll to four, while at least 12 people have been abducted in separate bandit-related incidents.
Kankara Local Government Area has long been regarded as one of the most insecure parts of Katsina State, having experienced repeated episodes of killings, mass kidnappings—including attacks on schools—cattle theft and the displacement of rural populations.
Despite repeated announcements by the authorities about peace talks and reconciliation efforts, residents insist that violent attacks continue with little restraint.
In a related development, SaharaReporters had earlier reported controversy surrounding an official document suggesting that the Katsina State Government had initiated moves to secure the release of dozens of individuals facing prosecution for alleged banditry.
The document, dated January 2, 2026, and marked “SECRET,” was issued by the Katsina State Ministry of Justice and addressed to the state’s Chief Judge. It sought the involvement of the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee (ACJMC) in facilitating the release of detained suspects.
Signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Abdur-Rahman Umar, the letter revealed that a list of 48 suspects accused of various bandit-related crimes had been forwarded to the Ministry of Justice by the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs.
The ministry explained that the proposed releases were part of conditions agreed upon to sustain an existing peace accord between bandits and several frontline local government areas.
While a small number of the suspects had been arraigned at the Federal High Court, the majority were reportedly awaiting trial at Magistrate Courts across the state. Another list containing about 22 suspects facing trial at different High Courts was also submitted for possible release under the same arrangement.
The Ministry of Justice urged the Chief Judge to act accordingly, citing provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Katsina State, 2021, which empower the Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee to intervene in such matters.
Subsequently, the Katsina State Government confirmed the authenticity of the document, explaining that the planned release of about 70 suspects was intended to strengthen ongoing peace initiatives.
The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Nasir Muazu, stated that the move was designed to reinforce agreements reached with so-called repentant bandits across multiple local government areas.
He added that the wider peace deal, which reportedly covers at least 15 local councils, had already led to the release of approximately 1,000 abducted victims held by armed groups in the state.
