Katsina State villages deserted following intensified bandit attacks

Renewed bandit attacks across southern Katsina State have led to the desertion of at least 15 villages and the deaths of at least 13 people. The violence has intensified in the Bakori, Funtua, Faskari, and Dandume local government areas, disrupting farming, trading, and general movement.

In Bakori, attackers reportedly invaded several communities under the cover of darkness, shooting residents and rustling livestock. Residents reported that the insecurity has made travel between towns increasingly dangerous, with bandits frequently seizing motorcycles or abducting individuals. In some areas, families have been forced to flee because they can no longer afford to pay ransoms for kidnapped relatives.

In Funtua, residents noted that bandits have begun attacking parts of the town itself. While security personnel have engaged bandits in gun battles—resulting in the arrest of one suspect and the death of another—the attacks continue to target economic assets, including cattle seizures at local businesses.