Tension has gripped three rural communities in Katsina State, northwest Nigeria, after suspected armed bandits attacked late on Monday, killing one person and abducting at least 17 others, residents and security sources said.
The assault on Danjanku, Dantashi and Dayi villages in Malumfashi Local Government Area marks the third such attack in a week, bringing the total number of people kidnapped in the area to more than 30, residents said.
Witnesses told Reuters that the assailants arrived around midnight, scaling fences to enter homes and seizing residents before shooting one dead.
In protest, youths in Danjanku blocked the Funtua–Katsina highway on Tuesday morning to denounce what they called the government’s failure to protect them. The demonstration later turned violent after security forces attempted to disperse the crowd, leaving at least one protester dead and several others injured, witnesses said.
Residents of nearby Dantashi and Dayi joined the protest, blocking roads and burning tyres before traditional rulers intervened to restore calm, locals said.
“They came last night, killed one person and abducted several others. We are living in fear here,” said Danjanku’s village head, Tanimu Almakiyayi.
A security official, who requested anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media, confirmed the attack and said 17 people had been abducted.
Two protesters were also reportedly shot dead by soldiers deployed to disperse the demonstration, residents said.
Authorities in Katsina, one of several northwestern states plagued by banditry, have not commented publicly. Calls to the state police spokesperson were not returned.
Communities across Katsina and neighbouring Bakori have faced renewed raids by gunmen despite an ongoing peace deal between the state government and bandit leaders, residents said.
“They still demand money before we can harvest our crops. Even after paying, there’s no guarantee of safety,” said one farmer.
