A wave of fear and mourning has swept through Kiliya village in Katsina State after suspected bandits killed at least 16 people and left many others missing. The attack happened Friday afternoon, just as residents were leaving Juma’at prayers and celebrating Eid-el-Kabir. Armed men on motorcycles stormed in and started shooting wildly, turning a festive day into a nightmare.
One man who escaped said he was relaxing with neighbors when two gunmen appeared. People scattered, but the bandits ordered them to stop. Then they headed toward a mechanic’s house and opened fire on everyone in sight. The witness hid in a nearby home, listening to screams and gunshots. When the shooting stopped, he found 16 bodies, including his uncles and cousins.
More than 400 villagers have fled to nearby Bagagadi and Radda for safety. Others are still missing, and bodies have been found in farmlands around the village. Some survivors say more gunmen arrived after the first shots, making the attack worse. In Bagagadi, families are taking in the displaced, with one resident sheltering over 30 women and children from Kiliya.
Sources suggest the attack might be revenge for the recent killing of two suspected bandits by local vigilantes. One source said, “Two bandits were killed days ago. This looks like retaliation.” Police have not yet confirmed the incident, with spokesman DSP Abubakar Sadiq saying the report has not reached them but promising updates.
The attack highlights ongoing insecurity in Katsina, where bandit raids, killings, and kidnappings are common. Just a day earlier, Deputy Governor Faruk Jobe assured residents that the government is committed to peace, saying, “Our government will not relent until every community sleeps with two eyes closed.”
