Fear and grief have gripped the rural community of Gidan Gona in Katsina State after suspected bandits launched a deadly raid that claimed multiple lives and left many families in distress.
The attack, which occurred Wednesday afternoon in Tafoki district of Faskari Local Government Area, turned violent as the armed men engaged local vigilantes and the Community Watch Corps (CWC) in a fierce gun battle. Several vigilantes and residents were killed, while others sustained injuries in the chaos.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as gunfire erupted through the village, forcing families to flee into nearby bushes. Tragically, an unspecified number of villagers were reportedly abducted during the assault and taken away by the gunmen.
Security sources confirmed that the violence was intense and that the attackers fled into the forest after the confrontation. Authorities are yet to release the full number of casualties, but the community remains on edge.
A prominent security analyst, known as Bakatsine, shared updates on the incident via his verified X (formerly Twitter) account, stating:
“Bandits stormed Gidan Gona yesterday. Several members of the vigilante group and civilians were killed. Some were injured, and many abducted during the raid.”
The Katsina State government and security agencies are expected to respond to the incident as fears of further attacks grow in the region. Gidan Gona now joins a growing list of rural communities in Northern Nigeria devastated by rising insecurity and armed violence.