SALLAH TRAGEDY: Bandits Storm Katsina Community After Juma’at Prayers, 16 Feared Dead
May 30, 2026 | SUNTV Global Channel
At least 16 people are feared dead and several others remain missing after heavily armed bandits launched a deadly attack on Kiliya community near Bagagadi in Dutsinma Local Government Area of Katsina State.
According to eyewitnesses, the attack occurred on Friday shortly after residents had concluded Juma’at prayers and were gathered in celebration of the Sallah festivities.
A survivor narrated that panic erupted when two armed men riding on a motorcycle entered the village. Residents reportedly attempted to flee, but the attackers ordered them to stop before suddenly opening fire on villagers and passersby.
“We were sitting together after prayers when the bandits arrived. People started running. They told us not to run, but moments later they began shooting indiscriminately,” the survivor recounted.
The witness said he managed to escape and hide inside a nearby house, where he remained while gunshots and cries for help echoed across the community.
“After the shooting stopped, we came out and found about 16 bodies lying on the ground, including some of my relatives,” he added.
Sources within the community revealed that the attack triggered a mass displacement, with hundreds of residents fleeing to neighboring villages for safety. Many families have reportedly taken refuge in Bagagadi and Radda communities, while several villagers remain unaccounted for.
Residents also disclosed that some victims may have been killed on their farms, as bodies were reportedly discovered in surrounding farmlands after the attack.
Another eyewitness, a 14-year-old resident, said additional gunmen arrived shortly after the first motorcycle entered the village, intensifying the assault and causing widespread panic.
A resident of neighboring Bagagadi village confirmed that dozens of displaced persons, mostly women and children, are currently being sheltered in homes across the community.
Local sources suspect the attack may have been a reprisal operation following reports that two suspected bandits linked to a notorious criminal gang were recently killed by villagers in the area.
“Considering what happened a few days ago, many believe this was a revenge attack by the gang,” a source told reporters.
When contacted for official confirmation, the spokesperson of the Katsina State Police Command, DSP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, stated that the command had yet to receive a formal report on the incident but promised to provide updates once details become available.
The latest attack highlights the persistent security challenges facing communities across Katsina State and other parts of northern Nigeria, where banditry, kidnappings, and violent attacks continue to threaten lives and livelihoods.
SUNTV Global Channel will continue to monitor developments and provide updates as more information emerges.
