BY FRONTLINE REPORTERS
A cloud of fear and mourning has descended on Kiliya village in Dutsinma Local Government Area of Katsina State after suspected bandits launched a deadly attack that reportedly left at least 16 people dead and several others missing.
The attackers struck on Friday afternoon, moments after residents had concluded Juma’at prayers and were observing the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations, turning what should have been a day of joy into one of bloodshed and despair.
Eyewitnesses said the gunmen, who arrived on motorcycles, opened fire indiscriminately on villagers, sending residents fleeing in different directions.
One resident, who spoke anonymously, recounted the terrifying ordeal.
“We were sitting together after prayers when two armed men arrived on a motorcycle. People immediately started running, but the gunmen ordered everyone to stop. They then moved towards a mechanic’s house and suddenly began shooting at residents and passersby,” he said.
The witness revealed that he narrowly escaped death by hiding inside a nearby house.
“After the prayers, I had just bought a bowl of local drink from a young vendor when the bandits arrived. Both of us ran into a house and hid. From inside, we heard continuous gunshots and desperate screams. When the shooting stopped and we came out, we found about 16 bodies lying on the ground, including some of my uncles and cousins,” he lamented.
The attack has triggered a mass exodus from the community, with more than 400 residents reportedly fleeing to neighbouring Bagagadi and Radda villages in search of safety.
Several persons remain unaccounted for, fuelling fears that the death toll could rise further.
Residents disclosed that some victims may have been attacked while working on their farms, as additional bodies were reportedly discovered in surrounding farmlands.
Another eyewitness said the assault intensified when more armed men arrived to reinforce the initial attackers.
In neighbouring Bagagadi village, families have thrown open their doors to displaced survivors. One resident said more than 30 women and children who escaped from Kiliya are currently taking refuge in his home.
Local sources suggested that the attack may have been a reprisal following the reported killing of two suspected members of a notorious bandit gang by vigilantes or villagers in the area earlier this week.
“Everything points to a revenge mission. Two bandits were reportedly killed recently, and they were believed to belong to a feared criminal group. This brutal attack appears to be retaliation,” a source disclosed.
As of press time, security agencies had yet to release an official statement on the incident.
When contacted, the spokesman for the Katsina State Police Command, DSP Abubakar Sadiq, said the report had not yet reached the command but assured that updates would be provided once details were formally received.
The latest tragedy highlights the persistent insecurity confronting communities across Katsina State, where residents continue to endure recurring attacks, kidnappings, killings and forced displacement.
Ironically, the attack came barely a day after the Katsina State Government reassured citizens of its commitment to restoring peace across the state.
Speaking during the 2026 Eid-el-Adha Durbar Festival, popularly known as Hawan Sarki, held at the historic Katsina Old Government House, Deputy Governor Faruk Jobe acknowledged the security challenges facing parts of the state but expressed optimism that ongoing interventions by the government and security agencies were yielding results.
“Our government will not relent until every community sleeps with two eyes closed,” the deputy governor assured.
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