FUNTUA, Katsina State — Suspected bandits have attacked Chibauna community in Funtua Local Government Area of Katsina State, killing two residents, injuring several others and abducting more than 50 women, in a raid that has reignited fears over the durability of recent “peace” engagements with armed groups in the state.
A local councillor, Malam Abdurasheed, confirmed the incident in an interview with BBC Hausa Service monitored on Monday night, saying the attackers struck late Sunday night, firing sporadically as they moved through the village. He said the gunmen also rustled large numbers of livestock, including cattle and sheep, during the operation.
Abdurasheed said two people were killed, while multiple victims sustained gunshot wounds and are receiving treatment at a hospital. He added that although over 50 women were initially taken, some managed to escape in the confusion and later returned to the community, leaving an unspecified number still in captivity as of Monday night.
He appealed to the military and other security agencies to urgently increase operations in the area to prevent further attacks and to secure the release of those remaining with the kidnappers.
The assault comes amid renewed attacks in parts of Katsina despite earlier talks and ceasefire-style arrangements between some communities and armed groups, with residents and local leaders repeatedly questioning whether negotiated deals are translating into lasting security on the ground.
Katsina’s conflict-management approach has been under national scrutiny in recent weeks following reports and official explanations that the state released 70 suspected bandits as part of a broader peace initiative and hostage-swap framework negotiated with the involvement of community and traditional stakeholders.
Critics — including civil society and political actors — have warned that such releases could embolden armed groups and undermine justice for victims, while proponents argue that negotiated releases can reduce violence and secure captives when kinetic responses fall short.
For residents of Chibauna and surrounding settlements, the latest raid has sharpened anxiety that armed groups retain the capacity to stage mass abductions even after local agreements are announced. Abdurasheed said the community now needs visible, sustained security pressure to prevent repeat attacks and restore confidence in daily life and farming activities.
