Katsina

By Sabiu Abdullahi

A notorious bandit leader, identified as Kachalla Bello, has reportedly been killed during a violent confrontation between rival armed groups in a forest around Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The incident reportedly occurred on Tuesday evening when two rival bandit factions engaged in a fierce gun battle, according to local sources cited by counter-insurgency publication Zagazola Makama.

Bello was said to have been among those killed in the exchange of gunfire, although details surrounding the circumstances of his reported death remained unclear as of Wednesday.

The bandit leader was accused of terrorising farming communities through kidnappings and forced labour.

According to the report, Bello allegedly abducted residents from their farmlands and compelled them to work on his farm before eventually releasing them.

His reported death is expected to bring relief to communities that have suffered intimidation and other criminal activities attributed to his group.

However, security authorities had yet to independently confirm the killing or establish the full circumstances surrounding the clash.

The incident also highlights continuing rivalries among armed groups operating in parts of Katsina State, where disputes over territory, resources and criminal activities have reportedly triggered violent confrontations.

When contacted by TheCable on Wednesday, the Katsina State Police Command spokesperson, Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu, said he was unaware of the incident but would make enquiries.

“I am not aware of the incident; I will make an enquiry and call you back,” he said.

During a follow-up conversation about three hours later, Sadiq-Aliyu said he was still trying to establish the exact location of the reported clash so he could contact the relevant Divisional Police Officer.

He explained that identifying the precise location would help him reach the appropriate police division and verify the report.

As of the time of reporting, the police had not provided independent confirmation of Bello’s reported death.

By Uzair Adam

Suspected gunmen have killed prominent Islamic cleric Sheikh Yahaya Masussuka at his residence in Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State.

According to Katsina Post, the attack occurred at about 9pm at the entrance to the cleric’s residence, where the assailants reportedly opened fire on him and a friend.

The two victims were subsequently rushed to Dutsin-Ma Hospital for emergency medical attention but were later confirmed dead.

The Daily Reality gathered that details surrounding the attack remained unclear as of the time of filing this report, with no information available about the identities of the assailants or their motive.

The killing has plunged residents of the area into mourning, particularly the cleric’s followers and people who knew him.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Twelve people have died in a road crash along the Kaduna-Kachia Road in Kaduna State, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has confirmed.

The accident involved two Volkswagen Golf cars and occurred at Doka Village in Southern Kaduna, according to the FRSC Sector Commander in the state, Andrew Paul Longkam.

Longkam said 14 people were travelling in the two vehicles when the crash occurred. Twelve of the occupants died, while two others sustained serious injuries.

The victims comprised eight males and six females. All eight males and four of the females died in the accident, while the remaining two females survived with injuries.

The two vehicles involved were a blue Volkswagen Golf with registration number APP 394 FN and a red Volkswagen Golf registered as ACN 205 HK.

The FRSC commander said a tyre burst was suspected to have caused the crash.

He added that none of the occupants, including the two drivers, wore seat belts or used any protective device at the time of the accident.

The two survivors were taken to Rapha Hospital for treatment, while the bodies of the deceased were deposited at Idon General Hospital pending identification and contact with their relatives.

By Uzair Adam

Suspected bandits on Sunday night attacked several communities in Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State, killing three residents and injuring four others.

The injured victims reportedly sustained gunshot wounds and are currently receiving treatment at hospitals within the area.

Residents identified the affected communities as Gobirawa, Badole, Yammama and Dayi, where the attackers carried out coordinated assaults that triggered panic among villagers.

According to eyewitness accounts, the attacks occurred in two phases, with Gobirawa and Badole recording the highest casualties as the gunmen stormed homes and fired indiscriminately.

One of the residents, Abdul’aziz Abdul’aziz, described the incident as a major setback to the relative peace that communities in the area had enjoyed in recent months.

“We had started experiencing some level of peace, and many people had returned to their farms. Unfortunately, the bandits returned and launched the attack with heavy gunfire,” he said.

Abdul’aziz noted that residents attempted to defend their communities despite the superior firepower of the attackers.

“The people displayed remarkable courage. They stood up against the assailants even though they were heavily armed,” he added.

Residents praised security operatives for their swift intervention, saying the prompt deployment of police personnel and local vigilantes helped repel the attackers and prevent further loss of life.

Community members said security forces conducted overnight patrols across the affected areas, restoring calm and reassuring residents.

“We are grateful to the government, the police and the vigilantes for responding quickly. Their intervention helped save lives and prevented the situation from escalating,” another resident said.

Abdul’aziz also appealed for blood donations for the injured victims, saying they urgently require support to aid their recovery.

Residents further called on authorities to maintain a strong security presence in the area, expressing concern that the renewed attacks could discourage farming activities during the current rainy season.

“If farmers are unable to access their farmlands because of insecurity, it will worsen food shortages and deepen poverty in our communities,” a resident warned.

Efforts to obtain an official response from the Katsina State Police Command were unsuccessful, as the command’s spokesperson, DSP Sadik Aliyu, did not respond to calls or text messages before the report was filed.

By Anas Abbas

A court in Katsina State has sentenced a woman to death after finding her guilty of aiding bandits operating in parts of the state.

The convict was prosecuted for providing assistance to armed criminal groups, an offence the court ruled contributed to insecurity and violence affecting communities across the region. After reviewing the evidence presented during the trial, the court held that the prosecution had established its case beyond reasonable doubt.

Delivering judgment, the presiding judge stated that anyone who supports criminal groups, either directly or indirectly, bears responsibility for the consequences of their actions. The court consequently imposed the death penalty on the defendant in accordance with the relevant provisions of the law.

The case is one of several ongoing efforts by authorities to tackle banditry and related crimes in Katsina and other northwestern states. Security agencies have intensified operations against armed groups blamed for killings, kidnappings, and attacks on rural communities.

Officials say the judgment sends a strong message that individuals who provide logistical, financial, or other forms of support to criminal networks will face severe legal consequences.

The conviction comes amid renewed calls for stronger collaboration between security agencies, local communities, and the judiciary to address the persistent security challenges facing the region.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

An investigation by Katsina Times has revealed that retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, abducted by bandits on Saturday, May 30, is currently being held by a well-known bandit leader identified as Kachalla Muhammadu, who operates in the Matazu area.

Multiple sources confirmed to the newspaper that the attack was carried out by a bandit group known as KB near Zakin Baure village, close to Matazu town. During the assault, the assailants abducted the retired general along with his wife.

According to the sources, the kidnappers were initially unaware of General Abubakar’s identity. Their primary objective was to capture a senior government official or a wealthy individual to demand ransom.

After the KB group seized the couple, the general was handed over to Kachalla Muhammadu, who is now believed to be holding him at an undisclosed hideout.

Kachalla Muhammadu, a young man under 30 years of age, hails from Sayaya district in Matazu Local Government Area. He comes from a settlement known as Kogon Maidawa, where his parents and other relatives still reside.

In the past, Kachalla Muhammadu was among the bandits who accepted a peace agreement with the government. In an audio recording that once circulated on social media, he stated that since embracing peace, he had been working to protect communities in the local government areas of Matazu, Musawa, Kankia, and Charanchi from bandit attacks.

However, in the same recording, he expressed dissatisfaction with the peace deal after soldiers from Kano State raided the Jikamshi market, arresting some of his men and seizing his cattle. He alleged that despite his efforts, neither his men nor his livestock were returned.

Sources said the military raid was carried out without the approval of security agencies or the Katsina State Government. According to the reports, it was after this incident that Kachalla Muhammadu resumed launching severe attacks in the area. He is accused of leading an assault on Jikamshi town, which resulted in the loss of many lives.

Negotiations are currently ongoing with Kachalla Muhammadu to secure the safe release of the retired major general, sources confirmed.

Authorities in Katsina State have continued to take measures and hold consultations to address the deteriorating security situation and restore peace following this abduction and other recent challenges in the region.

By Uzair Adam

Major General Rabe Abubakar (rtd), a former Director of Defence Information, and his wife have been abducted by bandits along the Matazu axis of Katsina State.

Sources said the retired military officer was travelling to Katsina with his wife when armed men intercepted their vehicle and carried out the attack.

His driver reportedly escaped despite sustaining gunshot injuries, while the retired General and his wife were taken away by the attackers into a nearby forest.

A video circulating on social media showed the victims’ vehicle parked inside the Matazu Divisional Police Headquarters.

The red Peugeot 504 car bore at least two bullet holes, indicating the intensity of the attack.

The incident marks the second high-profile kidnapping involving a retired senior military officer in Katsina within two years.

In 2025, Brigadier General Maharazu Tsiga (rtd), a former Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), was abducted and spent 56 days in captivity before regaining freedom.

Despite ongoing security operations, Katsina State continues to grapple with recurring attacks by armed groups.

The latest abduction came barely a day after bandits attacked Kiliya village in Dutsinma Local Government Area, killing at least 16 residents.

The attackers reportedly stormed the community shortly after Juma’at prayers as residents gathered to celebrate the Eid-el-Kabir festivities.

A resident who witnessed the attack said panic broke out when the gunmen arrived, forcing many villagers to flee for safety.

According to him, the assailants initially ordered residents to stop running before moving towards a mechanic’s house, where they suddenly opened fire on people in the area.

The witness said he survived by hiding inside a nearby house and later emerged to find several victims lying dead.

He added that some of those killed were his relatives, including uncles and cousins.

The attack triggered a mass exodus from the village, with hundreds of residents reportedly fleeing to neighbouring Bagagadi and Radda communities.

Several people remain unaccounted for, raising concerns that the casualty figure could increase.

Residents also reported that some victims were discovered on surrounding farmlands, suggesting that farmers working in the area may have been caught in the attack.

By Uzair Adam

Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, has expressed grief over a tragic road accident that claimed the lives of 12 persons along the Kano–Katsina highway.

The fatal crash occurred on Monday night at Gidan Mutum Daya and involved a head-on collision between a trailer and a vehicle operating under a Public–Private Partnership arrangement with the Katsina State Transport Authority.

According to reports, six victims, including the driver, died instantly at the scene, while another six later lost their lives while receiving treatment at the hospital.

Two injured passengers are currently undergoing treatment at Katsina General Hospital, while five others who sustained minor injuries have been treated and discharged.

Governor Radda described the incident as heartbreaking, saying the state had lost valuable citizens in a painful and unfortunate circumstance.

He noted that the tragedy happened during the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, a sacred period in Islam, which has further deepened the sorrow among grieving families and the Muslim community.

“We have lost precious lives in a heartbreaking and unfortunate circumstance. This tragedy is a painful reminder of the fragility of life and has plunged our state into mourning,” the governor said.

Radda prayed for Allah to forgive the shortcomings of the deceased and grant them Al-Jannah Firdaus, while also asking God to give their families the strength and patience to bear the loss.

He further urged motorists to obey traffic regulations and exercise caution on highways to prevent similar incidents.

The governor also extended condolences to the families of the victims, the management and staff of the Katsina State Transport Authority, and all those affected by the tragedy.

The Katsina State Police Command has apprehended 26 suspected miscreants during a late-night operation aimed at improving security in the state capital.

The command’s spokesperson, DSP Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu, made this known in a statement released on Friday in Katsina. He said the arrests took place in the early hours of April 14 after officers carried out an intelligence-led raid on identified criminal hideouts and black spots across the metropolis.

“The operation, led by the Officer-in-Charge of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit, focused on dismantling gangs linked to public disturbances and unlawful activities,” he explained.

According to the police, the suspects are linked to offences that include gang-related activities and acts that disturb public peace.

Sadiq-Aliyu said officers recovered several items during the operation. These include live ammunition, a sword, two cutlasses, a knife, sticks, a saw, and six mobile phones suspected to be stolen. Other items include substances believed to be Indian hemp, 500 Exol tablets, and a pair of military camouflage shirts.

“All the 26 suspects have been charged to court following the conclusion of investigations,” Sadiq-Aliyu stated.

The Commissioner of Police, Ali Umar-Fage, commended the officers involved in the raid. He also reaffirmed the command’s resolve to continue actions against criminal elements in the state.

He called on residents to support the police with timely and useful information to help prevent crime and improve public safety.

Reports indicate that on the same day, April 14, Governor Dikko Radda signed an executive order that bans thuggery, known locally as Kauraye and Sara-suka, across the Katsina metropolis.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Residents of Jeri community in Kusada Local Government Area of Katsina State have been thrown into distress after bandits launched a prolonged attack on the area.

The incident, which occurred on March 27, 2026, involved armed men moving from one house to another and looting valuables without interruption for nearly two hours.

Security analyst Bakatsine disclosed the development in a post shared on X on Friday, where he gave details of the attack.

“Bandits carried out a house-to-house raid in Jeri community, Kusada LGA of Katsina State, operating for nearly two hours,” he stated.

During the operation, the attackers reportedly made away with mobile phones, cash, and cattle belonging to residents.

“Phones, cash and cattle worth millions were taken,” Bakatsine added.

Despite the scale of the attack, there were no reported deaths or abductions.

The incident has, however, sparked fresh concerns over security in the area. This comes amid recent efforts by authorities to restore peace in parts of Katsina State.

Bakatsine also pointed out that the attack occurred only weeks after a peace agreement was said to have been reached with bandits in Kankia Local Government Area.

“This incident raises fresh concerns about the effectiveness of the peace deal struck with bandits in Kankia LGA just weeks ago,” he said.