Armed bandits led by a notorious warlord known as Babaro have reportedly taken control of Kankara Local Government Area in Katsina State, plunging the once-thriving farming community into chaos and fear.
According to a verified social media post by prominent security analyst Bakatsine, the heavily armed group has unleashed a wave of violence across the area, killing and kidnapping dozens of residents, banning farming activities, and effectively crippling local healthcare and essential services.
“Bandits led by feared warlord Babaro seize control of Kankara LGA, Katsina State. Farming banned from Marabar Kankara to Yantumaki, dozens killed/kidnapped, healthcare collapsed. Residents beg Gov. @dikko_radda & FG for urgent intervention,” the analyst wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
The situation has sparked widespread panic and despair among locals, many of whom have fled their homes or now live under constant threat.
Community sources describe the region as a “ghost zone,” where state authority has been replaced by the rule of armed terror.
Kankara has long been a hotspot for banditry and abductions.
The area gained national attention in December 2020 following the abduction of over 300 students from the Government Science Secondary School, an incident that spotlighted the deteriorating security situation in Nigeria’s northwestern region.
Despite military operations and state-level security initiatives, the persistent activities of armed groups like Babaro’s continue to undermine efforts to restore peace.
The recent developments have prompted renewed calls on Governor Dikko Radda and the Federal Government to intervene decisively.
