Bandits kill infant, abduct women, children in night attack on Katsina community

Suspected armed bandits launched a brutal nighttime attack on Zagami community in Yankara Ward, Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State on Wednesday, killing several residents and abducting many others, including women and children.

The attackers reportedly invaded the village around 8:00 p.m., unleashing chaos as they opened fire indiscriminately. Security analyst Bakatsine, who posted details of the incident on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday morning, described the raid as “merciless and devastating.”

Among the dead was a three-day-old baby, whose mother was taken away by the bandits during the raid, according to local sources. The incident has sparked outrage and grief among residents, who described it as one of the most horrifying attacks the area has witnessed in recent weeks.

Although the precise number of casualties and abductees is still uncertain, eyewitnesses say dozens of people, mostly women and children, were herded into the bush by the gunmen after the killings.

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As of press time, authorities have not released an official statement on the incident. Meanwhile, local leaders and community members are calling on the federal and state governments, as well as security agencies, to take immediate action to prevent further bloodshed and rescue those taken.

“We are living in constant fear. These people (bandits) operate freely, and nobody stops them,” a resident told reporters under anonymity. “We are pleading with the government to come to our aid before we are all wiped out.”

Faskari and other parts of southern Katsina have remained hotspots for banditry and violent attacks in recent years, despite ongoing military operations aimed at restoring peace in the region.

Wednesday’s assault underscores the persistent security challenges and the vulnerability of rural communities in Nigeria’s northwest.

The attack on Zagami is the latest in a string of violent raids that continue to displace families, disrupt livelihoods, and deepen the humanitarian crisis in the region.