A wave of bandit violence swept through parts of Katsina State on Sunday night, with armed assailants launching coordinated attacks that underscore the fragility of ongoing peace agreements and the challenges facing security forces in curbing inter-local government area (LGA) movements by criminal groups.
According to reports from local security analysts, suspected bandits first targeted Dandume town in Dandume LGA, where they encountered swift resistance from security personnel.
The forces successfully repelled the invaders, limiting losses to a single stolen motorcycle.
However, the attackers reportedly regrouped and redirected their assault to nearby Chibauna village, also within the Dandume area, resulting in civilian deaths, abductions, and widespread looting of properties.
Eyewitness accounts described the raid as swift and brutal, with the bandits exploiting the proximity of the communities, just a few kilometres apart, to evade full containment.
This incident adds to a string of recent attacks in Katsina, including a deadly raid on Dan Nakwabo and Madobai villages in Kankara LGA on Friday, where two people were killed and six abducted, and a daylight theft of motorcycles and phones in Kitibawa community in Dutsin-Ma LGA on Saturday.
Earlier in the month, bandits killed eight and injured 11 in multiple villages across Dandume LGA, while separate assaults in Kauran Fawa and Unguwar Jika left residents reeling despite purported truces.
These events have prompted mass abandonments of communities and heightened fears of a return to unchecked violence.
Residents and analysts have expressed growing frustration over the apparent breakdown of reconciliation efforts.
“The bandits call people on the phone, threatening them and demanding money. We don’t see enough security personnel here, and that is why they are bold,” one local from a nearby area told reporters.
Calls for community self-defence mechanisms are intensifying as trust in official interventions wanes.
In response to the persistent threat, security agencies in Katsina have implemented several measures to disrupt bandit mobility across LGAs.
These include enhanced intelligence gathering to track movements, clampdowns on informants and collaborators, and restrictions on activities like illegal fuel sales that aid bandit operations.
The state government has also launched targeted operations, such as a 30-day initiative announced last year to address resurgences, involving increased patrols and community coordination.
Additionally, efforts focus on providing alternative livelihoods to vulnerable populations to prevent recruitment into banditry, alongside improved border controls to combat trans-LGA and trans-border activities.
However, the status of existing peace deals remains contentious and their effectiveness is increasingly questioned.
Despite community-driven pacts and government-brokered amnesties in several LGAs, attacks continue unabated, with over 1,500 civilian deaths reported in the state over the past five years.
A recent government plan to release 70 suspected bandits as part of an amnesty deal has sparked outrage, with critics labelling it a “time bomb” that could embolden criminals and displace threats to neighbouring regions.
State officials defend the move as a necessary step to facilitate dialogue and secure hostage releases, but security experts warn it risks undermining justice and long-term stability.
As one northern group stated, the initiative should be suspended to prioritise victims’ rights and robust enforcement.
The Katsina State Police Command and government officials have yet to issue an official statement on the latest Dandume-Chibauna incidents.
However, as the region grapples with these challenges, stakeholders are urging a comprehensive review of strategies to restore peace and protect vulnerable populations.