Bandits have killed a man and abducted his wife in a fresh attack on Karofi community, Dutsin-Ma Local Government Area of Katsina State after weeks of relative calm.
The attack occurred on Sunday night, October 25, barely three days after bandits abducted another woman, 25-year-old Rukayya, the wife of Sule Mai Kaji, in the same community on Thursday, October 23.
The latest incident has thrown Karofi into mourning and renewed concerns over the effectiveness of community-driven peace efforts.
Some residents reportedly fled to Dutsin-Ma town, about 12 kilometres away for safety.
The victim of Sunday’s attack was identified as Ya’u Faduma, who was killed before his wife was taken away by the assailants.
A resident who identified himself simply as Babangida Karofi told Daily Trust that the killings and abductions have left residents increasingly worried about their safety.
Another resident, Maikudi Mai Petur Karofi, said the gunmen operated for about an hour before leaving with their victim after killing her husband.
He described the incident as devastating, saying residents had been thrown into confusion and were uncertain about what might happen next.
Mai Petur also confirmed that some residents had started leaving the community for Dutsin-Ma town, approximately 12 kilometres away, amid growing fears of further attacks.
Meanwhile, residents of Baggagadi, Radda and Kuki communities in Dutsin-Ma and Charanchi local government areas have renewed calls for urgent security intervention, urging the authorities to prioritise the protection of lives and property.
Hassan Yusuf, a resident of Kuki, said suspected bandits operating from neighbouring Matazu Local Government Area had been terrorising communities in the area for weeks.
When contacted, the Katsina State Police Command spokesperson, DSP Sadik Aliyu, said he would verify the information and call back.
However, he had yet to return the call as of the time of filing this report.
Similarly, neither the Katsina State Government nor any security agency had issued an official statement on the reported incidents as of press time.
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