Katsina Lawmaker Breaks Down in Tears Over Bandit Attacks

A Katsina State lawmaker, Ibrahim Umar Dikko, broke down in tears while addressing colleagues in parliament, warning that bandits had overrun eight of the 10 wards in Matazu Local Government Area. The attack has reportedly continued with little sign of relief, with 12 people killed in just two days.

Dikko, the Chief Whip of the Katsina House of Assembly, stunned colleagues during plenary on Tuesday, alleging that farmers could no longer access their fields due to the bandits. He said, “Out of the 10 wards, eight are under siege. Farmers cannot go to farms. Just yesterday, by the entrance of the town near the secondary school, they killed a young man and rustled four oxen.”

Lawmakers swiftly passed motions urging both state and federal governments to send reinforcements to Matazu and neighboring Sabuwa, and to investigate the sudden withdrawal of security personnel from several communities.

Residents say the situation remains dire, with villages in Matazu and Sabuwa reporting that farmlands are still inaccessible, families remain displaced, and bandits continue to launch raids with impunity. A resident of Rinjin Idi village, Aminu Murtala, said, “We have not seen any fresh deployment. People are too scared to return to their farms.”

Matazu council chairman, Shamsuddeen Muhammad Sayaya, has appealed for calm, assuring people that authorities are working “tirelessly” with security agencies to restore peace. However, the situation remains uncertain, with many residents still fearful for their safety