Residents of Gurbi and nearby communities in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State were reportedly surrounded by suspected bandits on Friday morning, raising fresh security concerns in the region.
According to reports, the armed men, believed to be operating in the Katsina South axis, moved into the Gurbi communities, firing sporadically.
Details of casualties or abductions were not immediately available at the time of filing this report.
Confirming the incident, Katsina-based security expert Mallam Bakatsine warned both residents and authorities about the renewed threat.
He described the latest development as part of a growing pattern of insecurity in the Katsina South Senatorial District.
“The recent wave of attacks in Kankara, Funtua, Faskari, and Dandume Local Government Areas, despite existing peace deals with bandits, requires urgent government attention,” Bakatsine said.
Katsina State has long been a hotspot for banditry in the North-West, with armed groups regularly attacking rural communities, killing residents, abducting people for ransom, and stealing livestock.
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Repeated attacks have left many communities displaced and living in fear.
Despite claims by authorities of ongoing military operations and peace agreements with bandits, locals report that attacks persist, particularly in remote areas where security presence is limited.
The development underscores the ongoing challenges facing the state as it battles to restore peace and security to its rural communities.