Bandits invaded a community in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State, leaving several persons dead, houses, shops, and vehicles destroyed, and many rendered homeless.
The incident took place in the Doma Community, Tafoki area of the LGA at about 4:30 pm on Tuesday.
The bandits, armed with weapons, including AK-47 rifles, invaded the community five months after a peace agreement.
According to the Chairman of Faskari Local Government Area, Sirajo Daudawa, the incident was a suspected reprisal attack. 
“The situation is indeed very unfortunate. We have not recorded any bad moments over the past five months, except for this that we found ourselves.
“We lost at least 20 people. Several houses and vehicles were burnt down by the hoodlums. Security agencies were duly informed, but unfortunately, none of them was able to report to the scene until after the bandits achieved their mission.
“The bodies of the deceased were retrieved at the Tafoki area, and will be buried tomorrow [Wednesday] morning,” he added.
“We are sympathising with the Doma community and Tafoki ward, Faskari LGA, and Katsina State people in general over this tragedy. May Almighty Allah have mercy on those killed and bring this to an end”.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Katsina State, Bello Shehu, has commiserated with the families and friends of the victims of the deadly bandits attack.
Shehu, who also condemned the attack, also directed the deployment of additional resources to expedite the investigation and arrest of the perpetrators.
The Commissioner, in a statement on Tuesday night by the spokesman of the Katsina State Police Command, Abubakar Sadiq, said the DPO mobilised operatives, in collaboration with the military, and members of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps (KSCWC), to the scene of the incident.
He noted that, unfortunately, the assailants had fatally shot 13 persons and escaped the scene before the arrival of the operatives.
But normalcy has since been restored to the affected area, the police said.
“Further development will be communicated in due course, please,” the statement read.
