No fewer than 14 people have been killed following a violent clash between local communities and suspected repentant bandits in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State.
The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, was reportedly triggered by the breakdown of a peace agreement between residents of Falale and Kadobe villages and a group of repentant bandits operating in the area.
According to security sources, the confrontation began around 12:00 p.m. when rising tensions escalated into a fierce exchange, resulting in the killing of three suspected bandits.
The situation quickly deteriorated as the armed group launched a reprisal attack, leaving 11 members of a local vigilante group dead.
The Katsina State Police Command confirmed the incident, stating that security operatives were immediately deployed to restore order.
In response, joint teams comprising troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA, police, and other security agencies engaged community leaders and stakeholders in efforts to de-escalate tensions and prevent further violence.
Authorities said normalcy has since been restored, while investigations into the clash are ongoing.
The violence is believed to be linked to a growing mistrust between the communities and the repentant bandits, despite ongoing efforts by the state government to adopt non-kinetic strategies in addressing insecurity.
Residents say the area remains tense, although security presence has been strengthened to prevent further attacks.
