Here’s a rewritten version of the report with improved flow, clarity, and readability while preserving the key details:
Seven people have been killed following a deadly bandit attack on Sayaya community in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State.
According to eyewitnesses, the gunmen invaded the community in the early hours of Thursday, June 25, 2026, shooting indiscriminately and forcing terrified residents to flee their homes.
Residents described the assault as one of the worst attacks the area has witnessed in recent months, saying it shattered the relative peace that had returned following the deployment of security personnel.
“We were asleep when we heard heavy gunfire,” a resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons, told Daily Trust.
“People were screaming, children were crying, and everyone was running in different directions. By the time the attackers left, seven of our people were lying dead.”
The victims were said to include farmers and traders who had been trying to rebuild their lives after weeks of relative calm.
Residents alleged that the attack was led by notorious bandit kingpin Kachallah Fulani Muhammad, who has long been linked to deadly raids and kidnappings across Matazu and surrounding communities.
“This is the same man who has terrorised our villages for years. He was also responsible for the abduction of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar Batsari and his wife,” another resident said.
“Whenever we hear his name, we know trouble is coming,” Alaramma Jibrin added.
Community members blamed the renewed violence on the recent withdrawal of troops attached to Operation Fansan Yamma, claiming the attackers returned shortly after security personnel left the area.
“When the soldiers were here, we could sleep peacefully,” a community elder said. “But once they withdrew, the bandits returned with even greater violence. It feels like we have been abandoned.”
Residents also claimed that the same group recently blocked the Karaduwa–Rimaye road in broad daylight, where travellers were reportedly abducted and assaulted.
“They stopped vehicles as though the road belonged to them,” commuter Sulaiman Sale Sayaya recounted. “People were beaten, some were kidnapped, and no one could stop them.”
Emotions ran high in Matazu town as relatives and residents gathered to bury the victims according to Islamic rites, with grieving families struggling to come to terms with their loss.
“This is not just a tragedy for Sayaya but for the entire local government,” a community leader said. “We have lost innocent lives, and this pain will remain with us for a long time.”
The attack has forced many residents to flee the community, with several families seeking refuge in Matazu town and neighbouring settlements amid fears of another assault.
“We cannot stay and wait to be killed,” a displaced woman said while relocating with her children. “At least in town, we can sleep without hearing gunshots.”
A source told Daily Trust that the victims included Lawal Chiki of Sayaya, Abdullahi Mustapha, Yalili Mai Ruwa, Isau Maharba, Salma Tasi’u, and Ibrahim Uncle, who was reportedly living with a mental illness.
Communities across Katsina State have continued to suffer repeated bandit attacks involving killings, kidnappings, cattle rustling and the destruction of livelihoods.
Many farmers now avoid their farmlands, traders fear travelling on major roads, and parents remain anxious about the safety of their families.
“Our farms are there, but our lives come first,” one farmer said. “If we go into the bush, we may never return.”
Residents are urging both the state and federal governments to implement lasting security measures, insisting that temporary military deployments alone cannot restore peace.
“We don’t want temporary peace,” a community leader said. “We want a permanent solution. We want to live without fear and allow our children to sleep safely in their own homes.”
