By Mu’azu Hassan
Culled from Katsina Times
Residents of Jikamshi town in Musawa Local Government Area of Katsina State have narrated how armed bandits attacked the community on Tuesday evening, March 10, leaving three people dead and causing widespread destruction.
Witnesses who spoke to Katsina Times said the attackers stormed the town around 6:00 p.m., arriving from the direction of Kogari village on several motorcycles.
According to the residents, the assailants split into three groups upon entering the town and began setting shops and houses on fire while looting goods and seizing mobile phones from residents.
One shop owner who witnessed the incident told Katsina Times that the attackers forced their way into shops where people had taken refuge.
“When they broke into the shop and saw us inside, we raised our hands in surrender. They beat us and ordered us to run away,” the witness said.
Sources in the town said the bandits did not kill people who surrendered or fled during the attack.
Residents said the attackers operated in the town for nearly one and a half hours before regrouping and leaving through the same route they used to enter, heading back toward Kogari.
Community sources linked the attack to an incident that occurred a day earlier, on Monday, March 9, when some Fulani herders reportedly brought cattle to the Jikamshi market to sell.
Witnesses said soldiers later arrived and seized the cattle. According to the residents who spoke to Katsina Times, the herders did not resist and allowed the soldiers to take the animals away.
Sources noted that some local government areas in Katsina State are believed to have informal arrangements with armed Fulani groups, under which the groups agree to halt attacks while being allowed access to local markets for trading. Musawa Local Government Area is said to be among those where such arrangements have been discussed.
Residents said security personnel arrived in Jikamshi after the attackers had already left the town. They reportedly showed the security operatives the direction the bandits took, but residents said no immediate pursuit followed.
The security personnel reportedly remained in the town until Wednesday morning.
On Wednesday morning, residents surveyed the extent of the damage caused during the attack, which included burned and vandalised homes and shops.
Community members confirmed that three people were killed during the assault. However, they said no one was abducted.
A woman who was initially feared to have been taken by the attackers later returned home after reportedly being beaten during the incident.
Residents believe the attack may have been carried out in retaliation for the seizure of the cattle by soldiers the previous day.
As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official statement from security agencies or the Katsina State Ministry of Internal Security regarding the attack on Jikamshi town.
