At least 18 people have been killed in Nigeria’s northwestern Katsina state in a deadly attack that highlights the growing fragility of peace agreements with armed groups in the region.
Authorities say the violence erupted after vigilantes killed three suspected bandits in Falale village, triggering a swift and deadly reprisal by gunmen. The retaliatory assault claimed at least 15 lives in Falale and the nearby village of Kadobe, underscoring the cycle of tit-for-tat violence gripping rural communities.
The attack marks the second major incident within a month, casting serious doubt on the effectiveness of amnesty deals and local security arrangements designed to curb banditry.
Despite ongoing negotiations between authorities and armed groups, communities across Katsina and neighboring states continue to face repeated raids, killings, and insecurity.
The latest violence follows a February 3 attack in Doma town that left at least 21 people dead, effectively collapsing a six-month truce.
Banditry remains one of Nigeria’s most pressing security challenges, with armed groups carrying out mass kidnappings, killings, and attacks that have disrupted livelihoods and made travel and farming increasingly dangerous across the northwest.
Source: TRT Africa
