FUNTUA, KATSINA — A fragile peace agreement in Katsina State has suffered a devastating blow after suspected bandits launched a brutal assault on the Chibauna community in Funtua Local Government Area, leaving two residents dead and over 50 women in captivity.
The attack, which occurred late on Sunday, January 25, 2026, saw a large number of heavily armed gunmen storm the village, firing indiscriminately to create widespread panic. According to local officials, the assailants focused their operations on abducting female residents, though some of the women reportedly managed to escape into the forest and return safely later that night. In addition to the human toll, the bandits rustled a significant number of livestock, including cattle and sheep, during the operation.
The resurgence of violence in Funtua comes barely weeks after the state government initiated a controversial “swap deal” involving the release of 70 suspected and convicted bandits in exchange for over 1,000 previously abducted persons. The plan, outlined in a leaked “SECRET” letter from the Ministry of Justice dated January 2, 2026, has faced intense criticism from civil society groups and opposition parties who argue that freeing unrepentant criminals emboldens terror networks.
While the Katsina State Government has defended the prisoner swap as a pragmatic necessity for peace, residents in frontline areas like Funtua and Kankara have expressed growing skepticism as attacks continue unabated. Just days prior to the Chibauna raid, residents in neighbouring communities blocked major highways to protest the government’s perceived failure to secure their towns despite ongoing negotiations.
As of Tuesday, January 27, 2026, security agencies have reportedly intensified patrols in the Funtua general area, though the state police command has yet to issue an official statement regarding the rescue efforts for the dozens of women still held by the kidnappers.
