By Our Correspondent
Tragedy struck again in Katsina State on Tuesday night as heavily armed bandits invaded Doguwar Dorawa, a quiet farming community barely two kilometres from Guga in Bakori Local Government Area. The attackers killed two elderly community leaders and abducted several residents in yet another wave of violence that has gripped the region.
Eyewitnesses said the gunmen, believed to be operating under the command of notorious bandit leaders Idi Abasu Aiki and Kwashen Garuwa, stormed the village around 10 p.m. The assailants reportedly parked their motorcycles in the nearby bush before trekking into the settlement to carry out the deadly raid.
Among those killed were two respected community elders, Alhaji Bishir and his brother Alhaji Surajo. Both men were described by residents as pillars of the community who had worked tirelessly to promote peace and unity among their people.
A resident who narrowly escaped the attack recounted the horror of the night.
“They came quietly and started shooting sporadically. Everyone ran for safety. They killed our elders and took away many of our people. We are living in fear every day,” the source said.
Although the exact number of abducted persons has not been confirmed, local sources said several men, women, and children were taken by the gunmen. The attackers also reportedly looted food items, money, and livestock before fleeing into the forest.
The same night, bandits also invaded Layin Yannehu, another nearby village, where they rustled several cattle and carted away household belongings.
Community members expressed outrage over the recurring attacks, lamenting that despite repeated appeals for help, there has been little or no security presence in the area.
“Hardly a day passes without one community or another being attacked in Bakori or neighbouring local government areas,” one local leader lamented. “We signed peace agreements with them, but the bandits have continued to kill and abduct our people.”
Security authorities in Katsina State have yet to issue an official statement on the latest incident, but residents are calling on the government and security agencies to intensify efforts to protect rural communities that have become easy targets.
The state, like many others in Nigeria’s northwest, has continued to face relentless assaults by armed gangs locally known as bandits who carry out killings, kidnappings, and livestock rustling. The persistent insecurity has displaced thousands of residents, crippled farming activities, and created widespread fear across rural Katsina.
As of press time, search operations were reportedly underway to locate and rescue the abducted victims, while the bodies of the slain elders have been buried according to Islamic rites.
