As the rain drops from the sky, farmers smile and rush to clear farms to begin their seasonal means of livelihood, but in Kankara, a local government in southern Katsina, fear grips and families mourn while others run for safety as terrorist groups of armed bandits kill no fewer than 30 farmers across Yar Goje, Dan Marke, Burdigau, Gidan Daudu, Gidan Damo, Marmara, Unguwar Tofa, Barebari, Unguwar Gambo, Kwakware, and Santa Dan Geda villages.
The attack, where several citizens escaped with gunshot wounds as others were kidnapped, occurred on 16 June 2025, an eyewitness, Mal Isa—real name changed—told Daily Episode.
In an interview with Daily Episode, Isa recounts how his friend was gunned down while sitting under a tree after working for some hours.
“I was coming from a distance to join my friend and have a rest. Suddenly, I heard a gunshot. I know we are at risk. Before I try anything, they have already surrounded Aminu Gurgu, with some asking him questions to which I can’t ascertain the exact happenings because of the distance and where I hide amidst fear of the unknown.
“Regrettably, I saw how one of them shot Aminu in the head and searched his pocket, stole his phone and money, and then drove to a nearby village, Marmara, where they also killed two brothers, Alhaji Isuhu and his brother, whose name I have forgotten,” Isa stated in tears.
Another source, Malam Yakubu Birdigau, who revealed the number of people who lost their lives in the bandit attacks, told Daily Episode that the bandits came from a nearby bush. They are known for this attack. Every year in the early days of rain, they usually attack people while imposing levies on some communities before they can be allowed to have access to their farms.
But this time it’s tragic, as about or even more than 30 people have been killed. Even the last person’s dead body was recovered. His dead body was seen three days after the massacre; his body had already started decomposing in the bush.
When they started the shooting, we thought security operatives would come to rescue us, but they carried out the attack successfully without any attempt to repel, arrest, or save our people from being kidnapped.
Per what we count, they killed at least 30 persons in the following villages: Yar Goje, Dan Marke, Burdigau, Gidan Daudu, Gidan Damo, Marmara, Unguwar Tofa, Barebari, Unguwar Gambo, Kwakware, and Santa Dan Geda on that day, and while I can’t tell the exact number of people being kidnapped, it’s so unfortunate we can’t save ourselves, and the government’s effort is sometimes ending in vain. Malam Yakubu added
The police authorities in the state did not provide details of the attack to this reporter, despite a promise from the state police public relations office, DSP Abubakar Sadiq, to do so.
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