MATAZU — Terror returned to the Kankia–Matazu–Musawa axis yesterday afternoon as bandits loyal to the notorious kingpin Kachalla Muhammad Yayi launched a brutal raid on Maruji community in Mazoji Ward.
The attack, which has left the local population in a state of shock, resulted in the death of one resident and the systematic destruction of the town’s economic heart.
A Trail of Fire and Looting
The bandits reportedly moved through the community with impunity, looting homes and carting away vital food supplies. In an apparent attempt to cripple the village further, the attackers set several shops on fire and torched a vehicle before retreating.
Local sources describe the scene as “calculated destruction,” noting that the bandits focused on emptying granaries and destroying property they could not carry.
The “Death Corridor”
Residents are expressing deep frustration over what they call a “security collapse” along the Kankia–Matazu–Musawa corridor. This specific axis has become a recurring target for Kachalla Yayi’s group, with the pattern of attacks—looting, arson, and targeted killings—becoming a terrifying routine for rural farming communities.
“It is the same pattern and the same pain every few weeks,” one witness stated. “The shops are burnt, the food is gone, and then there is silence until the next time they come.”
Growing Demands for Protection
The attack on Maruji has reignited a heated debate over the effectiveness of security deployments in rural Katsina. While security forces have occasionally conducted sweeps in the area, community leaders argue that the lack of a permanent presence in Mazoji Ward has left them at the mercy of Kachalla Yayi’s men.
As of this morning, families in Maruji are left to sift through the charred remains of their livelihoods. With the planting season approaching, the loss of food supplies and the persistent threat of violence are raising fears of a severe humanitarian crisis in the Matazu Local Government Area.
