By Ado Oyeyemi
Escalating bandit attacks across parts of Katsina State have forced the closure of no fewer than 10 churches, as insecurity continues to displace residents, worshippers and religious leaders from affected communities.
The Senior Reverend overseeing the Evangelical Church Winning All in the state, Rev. Daniel Barau, raised the alarm while speaking on the worsening security situation in the Funtua axis, describing the attacks as relentless and devastating.
According to him, communities in Kankia, Musawa, Kankara and Malumfashi Local Government Areas have come under repeated assaults by armed bandits, resulting in killings, kidnappings and mass displacement.
Barau said the persistent attacks have made daily life difficult for residents, claiming that criminal groups now operate with alarming frequency across the affected areas.
“There is hardly a day without an attack on one community or another.
The criminals strike at different times, abducting residents, attacking women, stealing property and killing people,” he said.
The cleric further alleged that some farming communities had been compelled to pay huge sums of money to armed groups before being allowed access to their farmlands during the current planting season.
He claimed that residents of Mazoji (B) Ward were asked to provide N30 million, while communities such as Maruji, Dan Ali, Ilali, Gwarjo and Jimpi were allegedly directed to raise N10 million each.
Barau disclosed that more than 20 people had lost their lives in the affected communities within the past two weeks, describing the development as deeply troubling.
He lamented that the worsening insecurity had taken a severe toll on Christian worship, forcing several churches to suspend activities or shut down completely.
Among the affected worship centres, he listed churches located in Boraji under the Siyyaya Chiefdom, Yan Sako in Musawa and Matazu areas, as well as a church in Tagabawa, Dutsin-Ma Local Government Area.
He added that congregations in Kakilawa, Sabon Layi Mazoji and Gidan Mai Doki had been abandoned after pastors and members fled for safety.
The cleric also identified ECWA Church in Jimpi, a church in Gidan Damo, another in Mararar Kankara and a Catholic parish in Gidan Na Moni among those affected by the security crisis.
He noted that a church in Yan Mayu Takalafiya had equally suspended worship activities due to fears of attacks.
Barau appealed to both the Federal Government and the Katsina State Government to intensify efforts to secure the affected communities and restore normalcy.
He also called on the Christian Association of Nigeria to support victims through humanitarian interventions, particularly food assistance and relief materials for displaced families.
“We urgently need stronger security presence and support for affected communities.
Many families have lost their livelihoods and can no longer worship freely because of the constant threat of attacks,” he said.
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The cleric warned that unless urgent and decisive measures are taken to tackle insecurity in the state, more communities could be abandoned, further disrupting economic activities and religious life across the region.
