By Joy Yesufu
One person has been killed and about 31 residents, mostly women, abducted after suspected bandits invaded Shuwaki community in Jargaba Ward of Bakori Local Government Area of Katsina State.
The deceased was identified simply as Ashiru Siyudi.
Residents said the heavily armed attackers stormed the village on Saturday night, operating for several hours during which they rustled an unspecified number of livestock and looted foodstuffs and other valuables.
Eyewitnesses said the assailants moved from house to house under the cover of darkness, firing sporadically, assaulting residents and searching homes for livestock, food and valuables.
A resident, who requested anonymity for security reasons, said the attackers overwhelmed the community because of their large number.
“They spent almost the entire night in the village, moving from one house to another in search of animals, food and other valuables. They also abducted many women before fleeing into the bush,” the source said.
Another resident, Aminu Magaji, said panic gripped the community as the gunmen fired intermittently while carrying out the attack.
According to him, the abducted residents were assembled at the centre of the village before being marched away into the forest.
“They gathered all those they abducted in one place before taking them away. We were helpless because they were heavily armed and outnumbered us,” he said.
A former resident of the community, who relocated to Bakori town because of persistent insecurity, described the latest attack as further evidence of the deteriorating security situation in northern Bakori.
He said repeated attacks, kidnappings and destruction of livelihoods had forced many families to abandon their ancestral homes.
“I relocated because life had become unbearable. People can no longer sleep peacefully. The attacks are becoming too frequent and residents now live in constant fear,” he said.
A community leader, said residents repeatedly contacted security agencies during the attack, but help did not arrive on time.
According to him, security personnel were reportedly concerned about the possibility of an ambush while responding to the distress calls.
“People cried for help throughout the night, but the attackers had already taken control of the area and operated for several hours,” he said.
The latest attack has renewed concerns over security in northern Bakori, where residents say communities continue to suffer repeated raids despite an earlier peace agreement reportedly reached with some armed groups operating in the area.
Residents argued that the recurring attacks have weakened public confidence in the peace initiative and left farming communities increasingly vulnerable.
The incident occurred barely one week after suspected bandits attacked neighbouring Guga community, also in Bakori Local Government Area, killing members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) and the Community Watch Corps.
Community leaders called on the Federal Government, Katsina State Government and security agencies to adopt a more coordinated security strategy involving the military, police and community-based security outfits to curb the persistent attacks.
They also urged authorities to intensify patrols along major and feeder roads linking vulnerable communities, strengthen intelligence gathering and improve emergency response to distress calls.
Residents expressed particular concern over the fate of the abducted women, appealing to security agencies to intensify rescue efforts and ensure their safe release.
They warned that continued attacks and displacement were crippling farming, trade and other economic activities in the area, urging the Federal Government to prioritise the protection of lives and properties in rural communities.
