Bandits kill residents, abduct women and children in Katsina village

|By Adejumo Adekunle-

-Three-day-old baby slain as mother kidnapped in night raid
-Locals cry for help as attackers continue to terrorise community

Suspected bandits on Wednesday night stormed Zagami community in Yankara Ward, Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State, leaving a trail of death and despair.

The gunmen, who arrived around 8pm, reportedly opened fire indiscriminately, killing several residents and abducting many others, including women and children. In one of the most heartbreaking details of the attack, a three-day-old baby was killed, while the infant’s mother was taken away by the assailants.

According to a Thursday post by security analyst Bakatsine on X (formerly Twitter), the attack sent the entire community into chaos, with gunshots ringing for hours as residents fled into nearby bushes for safety.

Although the full number of victims remains uncertain, eyewitnesses described the assault as one of the most terrifying incidents in recent weeks. “It was like a nightmare. We could hear people screaming in the dark,” a resident said.

Security agencies are yet to release an official statement on the incident, but the community is urging the government and relevant authorities to deploy more personnel to the area and prevent future attacks.

Zagami and other parts of Faskari LGA have faced repeated attacks in recent years despite ongoing military operations in the North-West region. Residents say the growing frequency of these raids has left them living in fear and despair.

“We are not safe in our homes anymore. This must stop,” one local lamented.