Bandits Kill Residents in Katsina Market Attack, Burn Houses

Fresh fears have gripped rural communities in Katsina State following a deadly bandit attack on Guga village, Bakori Local Government Area, where at least 10 people were reportedly killed at a grain market.

According to reports the attack occurred on Sunday in broad daylight when armed men stormed the market and opened fire on traders, farmers, and other residents.

Among the victims was said to be a pregnant woman, as eyewitnesses described the incident as chaotic and prolonged.

Survivors said the gunmen operated for several hours without resistance, forcing residents to flee into nearby bushes and surrounding communities for safety.

Beyond the killings, the attackers reportedly burned several houses and rustled livestock, including cows, goats, and sheep belonging to villagers.

Community sources said many of the victims were farmers from neighbouring settlements such as Gidan Sarkin Noma and Gidan Wawo, who had come to the market to sell their produce.

“They came from neighbouring communities to sell their farm produce,” a resident said.

The attack has left the affected communities in mourning, with mass burial prayers held on Monday morning in Gidan Sarkin Noma and Gidan Wawo.

Residents described the assault as one of the deadliest in recent months, noting that rural areas continue to suffer repeated attacks despite ongoing security operations in the state.

Eyewitnesses said the armed men arrived in large numbers, shooting indiscriminately before looting livestock and setting homes ablaze.

“The assailants also set several houses ablaze and rustled an unspecified number of livestock, including cows, goats, and sheep,” another resident recounted.

As of the time of filing this report, neither the Katsina State Government nor the police had issued an official statement, heightening anxiety among residents already living under persistent fear of attacks.

Efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer in Katsina, Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, were unsuccessful as calls and messages went unanswered.

The incident once again highlights the worsening insecurity in parts of Katsina State, where repeated bandit attacks, kidnappings, and cattle rustling continue to displace families and disrupt livelihoods.