Bandits Kill One, Abduct Chief Imam and Several Worshippers in Pre-Dawn Attack on Katsina Community
Armed bandits struck communities in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State in a brazen early morning assault, killing at least one resident and abducting several others, including a Chief Imam and worshippers preparing for Fajr (dawn) prayers. The incident occurred despite an existing peace agreement between local stakeholders and some bandit groups in the area, highlighting the fragile nature of such deals amid ongoing insecurity in Nigeria's northwest. According to reports from local sources and eyewitness accounts, the gunmen invaded villages in the Kankara axis, targeting residents as they gathered for the Fajr prayer. One person was reportedly shot dead on the spot, while the attackers abducted the Imam leading the congregation along with multiple worshippers. The exact number of abductees remains unconfirmed, but community leaders described it as a coordinated raid involving rustling of livestock and widespread panic. This latest violence comes shortly after other a...