At least 19 people were allegedly killed and several others abducted when suspected terrorists launched a brutal attack on Gobirawa community in Kuki ward, Dutsinma Local Government Area of Katsina State, over the weekend.
Eyewitnesses reported that the armed assailants stormed the village around 9 p.m. on Saturday, wreaking havoc and forcing residents to flee for their lives. According to survivors, five youths were reportedly burned alive in a building where they sought refuge, while over 20 homes and all commercial shops in the village were set ablaze.
“The bandits came from the Dan-Musa forest and descended on our village. We are still counting the dead and searching for missing people,” said Sani Abdullahi Kuki, a resident who survived the attack.
Abdullahi added that women, children, and the elderly were among those allegedly abducted during the assault, which left the once-thriving community largely deserted.
“Some victims were burnt beyond recognition inside grain silos where they hid,” he told journalists, noting that others who survived the initial attack were rushed to Dutsinma General Hospital, with some later referred to a facility in Katsina for further treatment.
He called for urgent government intervention, warning that the violence was creeping closer to the Dutsinma town, which also hosts a federal university.
Police authorities have confirmed the attack but offered a lower casualty figure. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, the spokesperson of the Katsina State Police Command, DSP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, said five persons were confirmed dead, and two vehicles were destroyed during the incident.
“Five persons were fatally shot and two vehicles set ablaze. Investigation is ongoing to identify and apprehend the perpetrators,” DSP Aliyu stated.
Katsina State has witnessed a surge in violent attacks, with Dutsinma being one of 22 local government areas designated as “frontline” zones due to frequent incidents of terrorism, banditry, and kidnappings. The latest attack underscores the deteriorating security situation in rural areas, despite ongoing efforts by security agencies.
The incident has left Gobirawa community in mourning and displacement, as surviving residents continue to flee to neighboring areas for safety. Community leaders are calling for increased security presence and sustained action to prevent further violence.
