At least 15 people have been killed and several others injured following separate bandit attacks on communities in Katsina State.
The attacks occurred on Tuesday evening in Dansoda community of Dandume Local Government Area and Jikamshi town in Musawa Local Government Area.
A resident of Dansoda, Kabir Adamu, told journalists that gunmen invaded the agrarian community at about 8:00 p.m., killing 11 people on the spot.
According to him, many residents were relaxing outside their homes and under trees when the attackers suddenly stormed the village, firing sporadically.
“People ran in different directions to escape the attack, but some of the bandits shot directly at fleeing residents, leading to the death of 11 people. They left 13 others with gunshot wounds,” he said.
Adamu added that after the attackers fled, residents cautiously came out of hiding and discovered the casualties.
The victims were buried on Wednesday morning according to Islamic rites, while the injured were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.
The spokesperson for the Nigeria Police Force in the state, Aliyu Abubakar, confirmed the attack but did not give an official casualty figure.
He said the Commissioner of Police had ordered an investigation aimed at arresting those responsible for the “dastardly act”.
In a separate incident, four people were reportedly killed when bandits attacked Jikamshi town in Musawa LGA.
While the police confirmed three deaths, residents said four victims lost their lives and had already been buried according to Islamic rites.
In a statement on Wednesday, Abubakar said police officers led by the Divisional Police Officer in Musawa responded to a distress call and engaged the attackers in a gun duel, foiling the assault.
“Unfortunately, three of the injured victims were confirmed dead by the doctor on duty, while 11 others are responding to treatment,” he said.
Residents said about 50 bandits riding on motorcycles raided the town, carting away millions of naira, mobile phones and textile materials.
Sources also indicated that the attack may have been a retaliation after soldiers recently arrested a suspected bandit who had brought stolen cows to the Jikamshi market.
The latest violence occurred despite recent community-driven peace agreements aimed at reducing banditry in parts of the state.
