Nigeria Maidabino Under Siege: Bandits Kill 9, Abduct 50 in Katsina

Bandits attacked Maidabino, Katsina State, killing nine and abducting 50 others in a four-hour raid. The assailants burned houses, shops, and vehicles. The attack followed a clash with a military-escorted convoy. Katsina police confirmed the incident, with investigations ongoing amid rising violence in the region.

In a tragic incident in Maidabino, Katsina State, bandits launched a deadly attack, resulting in the deaths of at least nine people and the abduction of around 50 others, mainly women and children.

The bandits, numbering in the dozens, besieged the town, burning over 10 houses, 15 shops, and at least nine vehicles during their four-hour rampage from 10 PM on Saturday to 2:30 AM on Sunday. This attack followed a confrontation between bandits and a convoy of traders, escorted by military personnel, returning from the Yantumaki market.

The traders were forced to spend the night in Danmusa after encountering bandits along the way, leading to a skirmish in which several bandits were killed by the military escort. In retaliation, the bandits mobilized reinforcements from Zamfara and other areas, overpowering the local soldiers and executing their assault on Maidabino.

The police spokesman in Katsina, ASP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, confirmed the incident and reported that seven people were killed in the attack. He assured that investigations are ongoing and further updates will be provided. This latest attack is part of a disturbing resurgence of banditry in Katsina, particularly in the frontline local government areas such as Kankara and Danmusa.

The residents of Maidabino are left in fear and mourning, grappling with the devastating impact of the assault and the loss of lives and property.

Authorities are under increasing pressure to enhance security measures and prevent further attacks, as the community seeks justice and protection amidst the escalating violence.