Terror in Katsina: Bandits Kill 3-Day-Old Baby, Abduct Mother in Zagami Village Raid
Garba Mohammed
Residents of Zagami community in Yankara Ward, Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State, are reeling in shock after suspected bandits launched a violent attack on the village late Wednesday night, killing multiple people and abducting several others, including women and children.
According to reports shared by security analyst Bakatsine on X, the armed attackers stormed the community around 8:00 p.m., firing indiscriminately as villagers fled for safety. Among the victims was a three-day-old baby, who was reportedly shot dead during the assault, while the infant’s mother was kidnapped.
“This is one of the most horrifying incidents in recent weeks. They did not spare anyone; women and children were major targets,” said a local resident who spoke under anonymity.
Although the exact number of casualties and abductees remains unclear, multiple residents reported that several houses were looted and livestock stolen during the raid. Witnesses described scenes of panic as families fled into nearby bushes in search of safety. “People were crying everywhere. The baby was only three days old, and now the mother is gone with the bandits,” another villager told reporters.
As of Thursday morning, security agencies had yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident. Residents are calling for urgent intervention from both federal and state security forces, warning that the attackers could return. “If nothing is done, these bandits will come back and wipe us out. We have no one to defend us,” said a community elder.
This latest attack highlights the worsening security situation in Katsina State, where banditry and kidnappings have become frequent. Only last month, several villages in the same local government came under siege, leading to the deaths of at least 15 people and the abduction of dozens.
According to security experts, the bandits operating in Katsina are part of a wider network active across North-West Nigeria, targeting rural communities with little or no security presence. These groups often demand ransom for abducted victims, using the proceeds to purchase weapons and sustain their operations.
While the Nigerian Military and Police have intensified operations in the region, locals claim the efforts have not been sufficient to curb the violence. Civilian vigilante groups, known as Yan Sakai, have stepped up in some areas, but their limited firepower and resources make them vulnerable to heavily armed bandits.
Humanitarian groups have warned that the continuous attacks are leading to mass displacement, loss of livelihoods, and a growing humanitarian crisis in the North-West.
For the people of Zagami, life has changed forever. A newborn killed, a mother missing, and an entire village living in fear—this incident underscores the urgent need for a coordinated security response to restore peace in Katsina and other affected states.
As calls for action grow louder, one question remains: How many more innocent lives must be lost before the tide turns against the bandits?