Terrorists Kill Community Watch Officer, Steal Rifle In Fresh Katsina Attack

Meanwhile, the slain officer was identified as Anas Ayuba, a member of the state-backed community security outfit.

Terrorists have killed an officer of the Community Watch Corps and made away with his service rifle following a violent attack on Dangani town in Musawa Local Government Area of Katsina State.

Meanwhile, the slain officer was identified as Anas Ayuba, a member of the state-backed community security outfit.

It was gathered that the incident occurred on Sunday, when heavily armed assailants stormed the community.

A Katsina-based security expert, Bakatsine confirmed the killing on Monday.

The alert disclosed that another Community Watch Corps officer, identified simply as Nura, sustained gunshot injuries during the attack and is currently receiving medical treatment at an undisclosed health facility.

Musawa Local Government Area is among several parts of Katsina State that had previously entered into peace negotiations with armed groups, a strategy adopted by authorities to reduce attacks, kidnappings and cattle rustling.

However, Sunday’s deadly assault has renewed questions about the effectiveness and durability of those agreements.

SaharaReporters previously reported that fresh controversy had broken out in Katsina State following the surfacing of an official document indicating that the state government initiated steps to secure the release of dozens of suspected bandits currently facing criminal trials.

The document, a letter dated January 2, 2026, and classified as “SECRET,” was issued by the Katsina State Ministry of Justice and addressed to the Chief Judge of the state.

It shows that the ministry requested the intervention of the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee (ACJMC) to facilitate the release of the detained suspects.

Signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Abdur-Rahman Umar, Esq., the letter disclosed that a list containing the names of 48 individuals accused of various banditry-related offences had been forwarded to the Ministry of Justice by the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs.

According to the letter, the proposed release of the suspects is aimed at “facilitating 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 Ministry of Justice further revealed that while a handful of the suspects had been arraigned before the Federal High Court, most remained in detention awaiting trial at various Magistrate Courts across Katsina State.

The letter also disclosed that a separate list of about 22 inmates currently facing trial before different High Courts in the state was submitted, with the aim of having them released under the same peace arrangement.

The Ministry urged the Chief Judge to take “necessary action,” arguing that the matter falls within the statutory powers of the Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee under Section 371(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Katsina State, 2021.

The state government later confirmed the document and explained that its decision to initiate the release of 70 individuals suspected of involvement in banditry was aimed at sustaining ongoing peace agreements with armed groups operating in the state.

Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Nasir Muazu, said the measure was intended to consolidate accords reached between affected communities and repentant bandits across multiple local government areas.

He noted that the broader peace deal, covering at least 15 local government areas, had already resulted in the release of about 1,000 people abducted during bandit attacks.

Last week, reports emerged that the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Katsina State Ministry of Justice had halted the state government’s plan to release 70 bandits following peace talks, warning that such a move could endanger civilians and undermine ongoing security operations.