At least 14 people have been killed in a violent clash between community members and suspected bandits in Jibia, following the breakdown of a peace agreement.
Sources said the incident occurred on Tuesday in the Falale and Kadobe communities, where tensions escalated after a truce between residents and a group of repentant bandits collapsed.
The confrontation reportedly began around midday, leading to a fierce exchange during which three suspected bandits were killed.
The situation, however, quickly deteriorated as the armed group launched a retaliatory attack that left 11 members of a local vigilante group dead.
The Katsina State Police Command confirmed the incident, stating that security personnel were swiftly deployed to the affected areas to contain the violence.
Joint security teams, including troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA, police, and other agencies, have since engaged community leaders in efforts to calm tensions and prevent further escalation.
Authorities said normalcy has been restored, while investigations into the incident are ongoing.
The clash is believed to be linked to a growing breakdown of trust between local communities and repentant bandits, despite ongoing efforts by the state government to adopt non-military strategies to tackle insecurity.
Residents say the situation remains fragile, although security presence has been strengthened to avert further attacks.
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