At least 16 people are feared dead and several others remain missing after armed bandits attacked Kiliya community near Bagagadi in Dutsinma Local Government Area of Katsina State.
According to residents, the attack occurred shortly after Juma’at prayers on Friday while villagers were relaxing and socialising during the Sallah period.
Witnesses said the assailants initially arrived on motorcycles before opening fire on residents and passersby. Survivors described scenes of panic as villagers fled for safety amid sustained gunfire.
A resident who survived the attack said he and a local drink seller hid inside a house and later emerged to discover the bodies of about 16 victims, including relatives and neighbours.
Reports indicate that some victims may have been killed on nearby farms, with bodies allegedly discovered in surrounding farmlands.
The attack has triggered mass displacement, with hundreds of residents reportedly fleeing to neighbouring communities such as Bagagadi and Radda. Many people remain unaccounted for.
Local sources believe the assault may have been a reprisal attack following the reported killing of two suspected bandits by villagers a few days earlier.
The Katsina State Police Command said it had not yet received an official report of the incident at the time of inquiry but promised to provide updates after obtaining details.
Authorities are expected to investigate the attack and verify the casualty figures as security concerns continue to grow across affected communities.
