Katsina is the home state of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Two members of a local vigilance group called Youth Initiative of Operation Self-Defence were reportedly killed during a terrorist attack on Saturday night in Dutsin-ma community of Kastina State, SaharaReporters has gathered.
Katsina is the home state of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The deceased persons, simply identified as Shamsu and Sani, were volunteer members of the vigilance group which protects the people of Mustapha Kuki layout in Dutsin-ma community.
A source in the community told SaharaReporters that since the attack on Saturday there has been tension. The source said many residents have fled the community to neighbouring communities.
"Even me, I have left Dutsin-ma because of the possibility of another attack from these terrorists.
"They had been trying to invade our community for a very long time but it was these vigilantes that always stopped them. But now that the terrorists have overpowered them. We are no longer safe," the source added.
Meanwhile, fighting terrorism through local vigilantes has been arguably effective in Northwest Nigeria in recent times.
For instance, SaharaReporters reported last Tuesday that at least nine suspected terrorists, including their gang leader popularly known as Solar, were killed by local vigilantes, the special forces of the Civilian Joint Task Force, in Katsina.
It was gathered that the Task Force killed the terrorists when they attacked a community in the state after evening prayers, riding on 10 motorcycles and wielding sophisticated weapons.
A source further disclosed that the Civilian JTF from Borno which was in Katsina to assist in defeating the terrorists, in conjunction with the vigilantes confronted the terrorists and halted their attack.
"Among those killed is a notorious bandit leader, identified simply as ‘Solar,’" he said.
According to the report, the bandit kingpin and his gang members had been terrorising Katsina metropolis, along with Katsina, Jibia and Batsari roads.
They were said to be behind the recent attack on the KSTA (Katsina State Transport Authority) bus which claimed three lives. Some passengers were also kidnapped.