No fewer than 11 persons have been killed after suspected bandits launched reprisal attacks on communities in Kankia Local Government Area of Katsina State.
The Katsina State Police Command said the attackers stormed Jeka da Kolo and Kwalgoro villages on Sunday at about 12:00 p.m., opening fire on residents before security operatives repelled them.
According to a statement issued by the command’s spokesman, Abubakar Sadiq, the assailants carried out the attack after regrouping following recent security operations against bandits in the area.
Commissioner of Police, Ali Umar Fage, condemned the killings, describing the attack as cowardly and barbaric.
He ordered an aggressive intelligence-led operation to track down the perpetrators and directed the deployment of additional tactical teams to the affected communities.
The police said bush-combing operations and coordinated patrols had been intensified to prevent further attacks and apprehend fleeing suspects.
The command also urged residents to remain calm but vigilant and continue sharing credible information with security agencies.
Police recalled that operatives had recently foiled a cattle rustling operation in Gadar Yan Tulu and Kartaka villages on April 29, recovering 205 animals, including 91 cows and 114 sheep.
It added that another attack on Matinjin village was repelled on May 2, during which several bandits reportedly escaped with gunshot wounds while eight motorcycles were recovered.
Meanwhile, the Katsina State Government also condemned the killings, describing the targeting of innocent civilians as an act of terror.
In a statement signed by Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Nasir Mu’azu, the government said intelligence reports had earlier revealed that a notorious bandit leader identified as Mohammadu Fulani was mobilising armed men toward communities in Kankia.
According to the government, residents alerted security operatives, enabling a joint security team led by the Divisional Police Officer of Kankia to intercept the bandits, neutralise several of them, and recover rustled cattle and motorcycles.
The government said the same group later carried out a retaliatory attack on Gwalgoro Village in Gyaza/Kunduru Ward, leading to the death of 11 residents.
Authorities commended residents for cooperating with security agencies and urged communities to sustain intelligence-sharing efforts to help prevent future attacks.
