Suspected bandits have reportedly resumed attacks in parts of Katsina State, killing two people and abducting over a dozen others in the latest incidents.

The development comes on the heels of a plan by the state government to release 70 suspected and convicted bandits as a swap for 1,000 victims who were abducted but released by bandits following a community-driven peace deal.

It was learnt that bandits attacked at least four communities in Faskari, Funtua, and Musawa Local Government Areas within the last three days.

According to reports, bandits armed with sophisticated weapons attacked Gidan Sarki community in Musawa on Monday night, where they killed two people and abducted 10 persons.

A source in the area said the bandits abducted five married men along with their wives, and led them into the forest ostensibly for ransom purposes.

“What happened in Gidan Sarki community was that gunmen, suspected to be bandits, attacked the area, killing two people, an elderly man and a youth, and abducting five men along with their wives.

“Right now, 10 people are being held captive by the bandits. I called one of the victims, my junior sister, and one of the bandits answered the call; he told me my sister and her husband were with them,” the source said.

Another source in the area said the bandits carted away several food items during the attack.

According to him, “They broke into about two shops – a provision shop and a shop where grains were stored.”

“They also broke into homes and carted away money and other valuables,” he added.

He also said that following the attack, several people in the community have temporarily relocated to larger communities for fear the bandits might return.

Bandits also attacked Dikke village in the Funtua council area on Saturday night, abducting about five people.

A resident of the area, Abubakar Mustapha, said, “They attacked the community and abducted five people, but God in His infinite mercy helped one of them to escape.”

“Presently, there are four people being held by the bandits in the forest,” he added, noting that the bandits didn’t come to the village on motorcycles as they used to in the past.

According to him, the bandits parked their motorcycles some metres away from the village in the forest and trekked to the area to commit their atrocity.

Bandits also attacked Unguwan Malam Musa community and a neighbouring village, Nadankama, in Faskari council on Sunday, and abducted six people.

A resident of the area said four people were abducted at Unguwan Malam Musa, while two others were kidnapped at Nadankama village.

He said the victims were working in their farmlands when the bandits swooped on them and moved them to an unknown destination.

He added that the bandits called and demanded a ransom of N14 million for each of the victims, but noted that the community did not have the money to pay them.

“The bandits then reduced the ransom to N2.5 million for each of the victims,” he added, while still expressing doubt about the community’s ability to raise such an amount,” he said.

The attacks have raised concerns among some quarters, which have lamented the resumption of killings and abductions by bandits despite a peace deal brokered between repentant bandits and security-prone communities.

A state government official, who asked not to be named, confirmed the attacks.

A spokesperson for the police command in the state, DSP Abubakar Aliyu, said he was gathering information on the incidents and would revert when he’s done.