Bandits have abducted at least 15 residents, predominantly women, children, and infants, during a late-night attack on Sabon Layi community in Kakumi Ward of Bakori Local Government Area, Katsina State. The assault occurred around 9:45 p.m. on Thursday, April 30, targeting homes linked to a man named Aliyu and his younger brother.
Coordinated Attack with Diversion Tactics
According to local sources, the attackers executed the operation with precision, splitting into two groups to avoid resistance. One group created a diversion by attempting to rustle cattle, while the second group quietly entered the community and carried out the abductions. The gunmen withdrew without firing any shots, a tactic that helped them escape unnoticed.
“The attackers operated in a calculated and strategic manner,” a source said. By the time villagers realized their cattle had been taken, the abductors had already fled. It was only afterward that residents discovered several people had also been kidnapped.
Escape Route Frustrates Rescue Efforts
The bandits escaped through Mununu village in neighboring Faskari Local Government Area, a corridor often used by criminal groups in the region. Local security volunteers, including members of the Community Watch Corps and vigilante groups, mobilized to rescue the victims but were unable to catch up with the attackers. Among those taken were several minors, including infants, raising concerns for their safety.
There are suspicions that the raid may be linked to a known bandit leader, Kwashen Garwa, who had reportedly been part of a peace arrangement in the area months earlier. Communities had experienced relative calm following the deal until the latest incident.
Bandits Impose N10m Levy on Farming Communities
In a related development, armed groups have imposed a N10 million levy on several farming communities across Faskari and Bakori local government areas. The payment is a condition for farmers to access their lands during the upcoming wet season without being attacked. A resident from one of the affected communities said the bandits warned that farming activities would be prohibited if the levy was not paid.
Communities affected include Yanshuni, Unguwar Lamido, Zamfarawa, Unguwar Dan Malka, Doma, Ruwan Godiya, Gidan Kare, and Unguwar Wawo. Some residents are reportedly exploring negotiations to secure access to their farmlands.
Residents Call for Urgent Government Intervention
A community member, speaking anonymously, expressed fear over the worsening security situation and urged authorities to act decisively. “We don’t go to them; they come to us. Now they have placed a levy that we don’t even know how to pay. Government should please come to our aid. What we need is a permanent solution, not a temporary one,” he said.
Efforts to reach the Katsina State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Nasir Mu’azu, were unsuccessful, as calls to his phone went unanswered. As of the time of filing this report, security agencies had yet to issue an official statement on the incidents.
In a separate operation, the Nigerian Air Force, under the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI, has stepped up aerial offensives in the North-East, carrying out precision strikes targeting insurgent positions in Sambisa Forest and the Tumbuns area.
