Bandits Kill Two, Abduct 115 Farmers in Katsina Attack

On Saturday afternoon, suspected armed bandits killed two people and abducted about 115 farmers, mostly women and children, in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State. This incident is reportedly a reprisal attack connected to a breakdown in a recently negotiated peace agreement.

The victims were attacked while harvesting crops, raising concerns about rural safety. Human rights advocate Shamsudeen Faskari stated the attack was linked to an earlier ambush involving members of the civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) and Fulani men transporting ₦6 million in ransom money for kidnapped victims.

Faskari condemned the violence, particularly the targeting of women and children, and expressed that grievances should have been addressed through local authorities rather than attacking innocent residents. He highlighted the incident's potential to undermine fragile peace arrangements and called for a review of peace negotiation strategies to ensure accountability and protection for vulnerable communities.

The abduction has heightened fears among farming households during the harvest season, although the exact circumstances and number of victims remain unverified.