By Taibat Ummi Yakubu

Renewed bandit attacks have forced residents to flee at least 15 villages in Dandume Local Government Area of Katsina State, deepening fears over the worsening security situation across parts of the state's southern axis.

Residents who spoke with the BBC described a growing wave of violence affecting communities in Dandume, Funtua and Bakori local government areas, saying persistent attacks, kidnappings and cattle rustling have disrupted daily life, restricted movement and left many people unable to safely engage in farming and other economic activities.

In Funtua, residents said bandits have become increasingly daring, carrying out attacks even within areas where security personnel are present.

One resident lamented that no part of the town now appears beyond the reach of armed groups.

According to him, bandits recently stormed an area near Unity Bank, rustled cattle and escaped despite security efforts.

He also recounted an attempted cattle theft in the MTD area on Thursday, where security operatives reportedly confronted the attackers in a gun battle and successfully dispersed them.

"They came to seize cattle, but security personnel engaged them and scattered them. One of the suspects was arrested," he said.

The resident added that another clash occurred in the Unguwar Shanu area, where security forces exchanged gunfire with the attackers before forcing them to retreat.

He said one bandit was killed during the confrontation, while a civilian also lost his life.

Despite the growing insecurity, the resident commended security personnel for their responsiveness, noting that they often arrive quickly whenever distress calls are made.

The situation is equally troubling in neighbouring Bakori Local Government Area, where residents of communities including Kakumi, Sabon Layi, Gidan Jaura and Garanguzai said they continue to live under the threat of attacks.

According to one resident, travelling between communities has become increasingly dangerous as armed groups operate freely in rural areas.

"We are still struggling with these people. Once you move a short distance outside town, you can run into them. They either shoot people or seize their motorcycles," he said.

He revealed that two residents were abducted last Friday and remain in captivity, while several others kidnapped in previous attacks have yet to regain their freedom.

In Dandume, residents described an even more alarming situation, alleging that bandits now launch attacks almost every day.

A resident said the area has witnessed a relentless wave of violence over the past two weeks, with communities repeatedly targeted by gunmen.

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"For the past two weeks, there has hardly been a day without an attack. They come to kill people, kidnap them or chase them away from their farms and homes," he said.

He explained that the attackers sometimes strike more than once in a single day, often carting away livestock and abducting residents.

The resident claimed that more than 100 people had been kidnapped across the local government area within the last two weeks alone, with many victims still being held captive.

According to him, some families paid ransoms and even provided motorcycles demanded by the abductors, yet their loved ones were not released.

"In some cases, we have not even been able to establish contact with the bandits to negotiate for the victims' freedom," he said.

He recounted his own ordeal, revealing that he was forced to pay a ransom to secure the release of his son after he was kidnapped.

The same attack, he said, also resulted in the loss of more than 30 cattle.

The sustained attacks have triggered a humanitarian crisis in several rural communities, with many residents abandoning their homes in search of safety.

According to locals, entire settlements have been emptied as families flee the violence.

One resident estimated that about 15 villages in Dandume have become completely deserted.

"I know of around 15 villages where nobody lives anymore. The houses are empty, there are no people and nothing is left. They have become ghost villages," he said.

Residents say their primary demand is not new infrastructure projects or government amenities but security and the ability to live normal lives.

"We are not asking for roads or other projects. What we need is peace. We want to farm, raise our families and sleep peacefully in our homes," the resident appealed.

The latest accounts underscore the persistent security challenges facing several communities in Katsina State, where residents continue to grapple with banditry, mass abductions and displacement despite ongoing security operations.