Katsina: How Bandits Lured Three Villages to a Meeting, Opened Fire, Killed Scores and Abducted Others in Kankara Days After Peace Deal

I was fortunate to have avoided the meeting between the bandits’ warlord “Shabugu” lieutenants and our communities; I would have been killed like my brother Shu’aibu in the forced meeting, Mu’azam Ya’u (not his real name) told Daily Episode.

“They lured us to a peace meeting; no one knew it was a trap set for targeted members of the Madobai village.

“Many abandoned their activities and attended the meeting because we are tired of the killings, levies, kidnapping, and cattle rustling, but we ended up counting corpses, rushing many to hospitals with life-threatening gunshot wounds, and two people remain in captivity, for which we don’t know what will be requested as ransom for their freedom,” Rabilu said

What happened? How were six people killed, nine injured, and others kidnapped at the force meeting?

“On Wednesday, 26 August, town criers announced that a peace meeting would be held on Thursday, 27 August, between the bandits and villages of Dan-Nakwabo, Madobai and Gatakawa at Madobai LEA Primary School. Ya’u (not real name) told Daily Episode

“Reasons or issues to be discussed at the meeting were not contained in the announcement, and every community must attend because failure to attend may result in genocide or any tragedy. 

“So there were mixed reactions from members of the communities, but despite that, everyone kept mute; people only shared their opinions behind closed doors for fear of the unknown.

“The following day, people began to gather from both communities; although some were skeptical and chose not to attend, others decided to participate, believing that recently a similar peace meeting had taken place in the Kankara local government with both security and government officials present, and they hoped to find solutions.

“Most of the victims attended the meeting for peace, but they met their end, while others were injured and kidnapped.

“That very day, five people were killed at a spot; later, the other victim also passed away, and nine people were still hospitalised in critical condition. After the killing, they also kidnapped about seven people, although they released five; two were a man and a married woman who are still in captivity.” 

The Shootings that Killed Six, Injured 9

Usamat Almustapha, a survivor, spoke to us from his hospital bed and told our reporter that while the villagers gathered at the Madobai LEA waiting for the bandits from Shabugu’s camp to arrive, they observed the bandits moving strangely and in large numbers.

“We were all scared, but we maintained a belief that they wouldn’t attack us in a peace meeting, so we stayed, but everyone was vigilant.

“They ordered we should assemble village by village; that was the tragic part of the engagement.” Almustapha burst into tears.

“We obeyed, and they opened fire on us, the Madobai villagers. That’s when everyone began to run. I kept running until I couldn’t anymore because of the bullets and the amount of blood I was losing. I can’t tell how many people were killed; all I remember is seeing them shoot at us while I ran for my life, trying to survive.” Almustapha added

Who are the victims?

So far, the people we lost in that gathering are Shu’aibu Abdullahi Dan-Nakwabo, Nasiru Dayyabu, Hamisu Kandi, Abdulra’uf Yahaya, and Jabiru Gatakwa, while the last person, I can’t recall his name, is Ya’u (not a real name).

“The people who are still in captivity are Sabira Dayyabu and Sada Musa Yaro Madobai.

For the injured victims, we were told not to tell their identities for security reasons. We know they are listening and watching, so please protect their names. Rabilu pleaded with this reporter as he narrated.

What transpired that triggered the attack?

On Tuesday, August 22, some members of the Katsina Community Watch Corps (C-Watch) were moving along the Gatakawa community while coming back from patrolling when some bandits saw them and opened fire on them.

The incident resulted in operatives of C-Watch surviving with sustained injuries.

However, after the news of the incident reached Kankara’s office of the C-Watch, they immediately swung into action by arresting every bandit in the market and within Kankara. One of the bandits resisted and tried to escape the arrest, so an officer of the C-Watch allegedly shot the bandits and instantly died, Ya’u told Daily Episode.

“So since that very incident, the bandits broke the peace accord they signed this month in Kankara, and attacking members of the Madobai community has resulted in losing lives, which proves what many have said: that a peace with bandits can never be sustained; they are monsters who are thirsty to kill for anything.”

The atrocities continue few days after the peace deal

On August 15, leaders and stakeholders in Kankara local government gathered with different bandit groups and leaders, where they signed a peace accord. 

Kankara signed a peace accord with the bandits in the past; none had lasted long enough to achieve peace and stop or end kidnapping, cattle rustling, or killings. 

 

For this 2026 peace deal, wanted terrorists like Ado Alleru were present at the gathering despite Nigerian troops declaring him wanted.

Several citizens expressed their dissatisfaction in the process, considering how several deals in other neighbouring local governments failed.

Among the deals signed by both parties was that the bandits would be allowed to access the market, hospital, and other public gatherings; the constitution allows every citizen the privilege. 

Authorities’ response.

As of press time, the police public relations officer in the Katsina command has not received calls or reply messages from our reporter to confirm the incidents.