Residents Decry Government Silence Amid Escalating Insecurity
Terror returned to Katsina State over the weekend as armed bandits unleashed a deadly assault on Gobirawa and Kuki villages in Dutsin-Ma Local Government Area, killing more than 10 people, injuring scores, and abducting several others. The Saturday night attack has plunged the communities into deep mourning and renewed fears of growing insecurity in the region.
Eyewitnesses recounted a horrifying scene of violence and destruction. According to a local resident, the bandits stormed the villages unexpectedly, opening fire on residents and setting homes and shops ablaze. “They came in large numbers, shooting anyone in sight. It was like a war zone,” the resident told reporters. Over ten villagers were abducted and taken into the forest by the attackers.
Residents have condemned the government’s failure to protect them, expressing frustration over repeated attacks with no visible intervention. “We are living in fear every single day. This has become normal, and yet there is no help from the government,” another villager said. They called on the Katsina State Government to take immediate action to prevent further loss of life and property.
Despite the severity of the attack, there has been no official statement or reaction from the Katsina State Police Command at the time of filing this report. The silence has further deepened residents’ despair, who feel abandoned in the face of relentless violence.
The latest attack underscores the escalating security crisis in Katsina and the urgent need for government intervention to restore safety and confidence in rural communities.
