Suspected bandits have reportedly launched a deadly assault on a wedding convoy in Unguwar Nagunda Community, located in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State, resulting in the death of at least two individuals.
Several other people sustained injuries during the incident, including the bride who was part of the convoy.
The attack, which took place late on Sunday night, also led to the abduction of an undetermined number of wedding guests who were travelling with the convoy at the time of the assault.
A security source disclosed on Monday that residents of the area heard intense gunfire and witnessed chaos as the armed attackers stormed the community on Sunday night.
“As of this morning, families are still trying to confirm how many people were abducted,” the source said.
Efforts to obtain an official response from the Katsina State Police Command were unsuccessful, as the Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Sadiq, did not respond to calls or text messages sent to him as of the time this report was filed.
The latest attack occurred amid ongoing plans by the Katsina State Government to release 70 detained suspected bandits as part of efforts to strengthen what it described as the “existing peace” deal between communities affected by banditry and repentant bandits within the state.
According to the government, such measures are not unusual and are tactics commonly applied in war situations across the world.
The state government also revealed that the peace agreement had already resulted in the release of no fewer than 1,000 people who were previously held captive by suspected bandits during various attacks across the state.
On January 2, 2026, an official letter surfaced detailing the government’s intention to secure the release of suspected bandits who are currently facing criminal prosecution for their alleged roles in banditry.
The document, marked “SECRET,” was issued by the Ministry of Justice and addressed to the Chief Judge of Katsina State, Justice Musa Abubakar.
Through the Ministry of Justice, the state government requested the involvement of the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee (ACJMC) to assist in facilitating the release of the detained suspected terrorists.
The letter, signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Abdur-Rahman Umar, indicated that a list containing the names of 48 individuals accused of various banditry-related crimes had been submitted to the Ministry of Justice by the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs.
It further explained that the planned release of the suspects was meant to ensure “their release from detention, as one of the conditions precedent for the continuance of the peace accord deal signed between the frontline local governments and the bandits.”
The government added that while some of the suspects were already undergoing trial at the Federal High Court, others were still being held in detention and awaiting trial at different magistrates’ courts across Katsina State.
Umar also disclosed that another list involving about 22 inmates currently facing trial before various high courts in the state had been forwarded, requesting their release under the same peace arrangement, and urged the Chief Judge to take “necessary action” in line with the request.
What you should know
The attack on the wedding convoy has heightened public concern over security in Katsina State, especially as the government pursues peace deals with repentant bandits.
While authorities argue that negotiated releases have helped free many abducted victims, critics fear that such moves could embolden criminal elements and undermine justice for victims.
The incident highlights the fragile balance between pursuing peace and ensuring accountability, as communities continue to face deadly attacks despite ongoing negotiations aimed at ending banditry in the state.
