Tension has engulfed Danjanku, Dantashi and Dayi communities in Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State, following a fresh attack by bandits that left one person dead and 17 others abducted, despite an existing peace deal between the criminals and the government.
According to residents, the latest attack, which occurred on Monday night, is the third in less than a week, bringing the number of persons abducted from the affected areas to over 30.
Eyewitnesses reported that the bandits stormed Danjanku about midnight, scaling fences to access homes before abducting residents and killing one of them.
In anger, residents, mostly youths, took to the streets, yesterday morning, blocking the Funtua–Katsina highway to protest the incessant attacks and government’s failure to secure the area.
However, the peaceful protest soon turned violent when a combined team of security personnel arrived to disperse the crowd, killing one of the protesters in the process.
Residents of Dantashi and Dayi later joined in solidarity, blocking roads and burning tyres to register their anger over the growing insecurity.
Calm has since returned to the area following the intervention of traditional rulers and community elders. The Village Head of Danjanku, Tanimu Almakiyayi, confirmed the attack.
“They came last night, killed one person and abducted several others. We are living in fear here,” he said.
A security source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, also confirmed the incident.
“The bandits invaded Danjanku last night and abducted 17 people, killing one in the process,” he said.
Residents alleged that soldiers deployed to restore calm shot two protesters dead and injured two others during the confrontation.
Calls and messages sent to the Katsina State Police Public Relations Officer for comment were not returned at press time.
Locals told Vanguard that Malumfashi and the neighbouring Bakori areas have come under renewed attacks despite the peace deal reached with the bandits.
“They still tax us to harvest our farm produce. Even after paying, there’s no guarantee we can farm or move freely,” one resident lamented.
