At least 15 villages in Dandume Local Government Area of Katsina State have been abandoned as renewed attacks by bandits continue to drive residents from their homes.
Residents who spoke to the BBC said the security situation had also deteriorated in Funtua and Bakori local government areas, with communities across southern Katsina increasingly affected.
According to the residents, the repeated attacks have created widespread fear, restricted movement and disrupted farming, livestock activities and other sources of livelihood.
In Funtua, a resident said that bandits were becoming increasingly bold, carrying out attacks even within the town despite the presence of security personnel, according Daily Trust who cited the BBC.
“The way things are happening now shows that there is nowhere the bandits cannot attack in Funtua town. They recently came to Unity Bank, seized cattle and escaped with them,” he said.
The resident said security personnel confronted the bandits on Thursday after they attempted to steal cattle in the MTD area.
“They came to the MTD area to seize cattle, but security personnel engaged them in a gun battle and they were dispersed. One of them was arrested.
“They also entered the Unguwar Shanu neighbourhood, where they exchanged gunfire with security personnel before they were repelled. One of the bandits was killed, while they also killed one person.
“However, the security personnel are trying. Whenever they are called, they respond and provide assistance,” he said.
The situation is also said to be worsening in Bakori, where residents of more than 10 communities, including Kakumi, Sabon Layi, Gidan Jaura and Garanguzai, have expressed concern over persistent attacks.
A resident said the threat had made travelling between neighbouring communities increasingly risky, with bandits reportedly operating close to populated areas.
“We are still dealing with these people. If you walk just about a kilometre outside the town, you can encounter them. They either shoot someone or seize the motorcycle you are riding.
“Even last Friday, they abducted two of our people, and they are still in their custody. We also have other people who remain in their den,” he said.
Residents of Dandume said the situation had become even more severe, with attacks allegedly occurring almost every day across the local government area.
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“For the past two weeks, there has not been a single day when these bandits did not come into the local government area to either kill people, abduct them or drive them away from their farms or homes.
“Sometimes they come once, sometimes twice. Taking livestock and people is what they do,” he said.
The resident claimed that more than 100 people had been abducted in Dandume within two weeks, with many of the victims still being held by the bandits.
“In these two weeks alone, they have abducted more than 100 people, and many of them are still in their custody. I know of cases where ransom money was taken to them and motorcycles were delivered, but they still refused to release the victims.
“In some other cases, we have not even been able to establish contact with the bandits to negotiate.
“Even when they abducted my son, I had to pay a ransom before he was released. That very time, they also took away more than 30 cattle,” he said.
The BBC reported that the sustained attacks had forced residents of several communities to flee to safer locations, leaving some villages virtually empty.
A Dandume resident said about 15 villages had been completely deserted as residents abandoned their homes because of the insecurity.
“I know of about 15 villages that currently have no one living in them. There are no houses occupied, no people and nothing left. They have become deserted.
“We are not asking the government for infrastructure. We want peace. We want to be able to go to our farms and sleep peacefully in our homes,” he said.