A suspected bandit attack on Gora Village in Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State has left a local vigilante leader dead and sparked a protest that temporarily blocked the Malumfashi–Katsina highway.

The Katsina State Police Command confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Thursday by its spokesperson, DSP Abubakar Sadiq. He said police received a distress call at about 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday reporting an attack by armed bandits on the community.

According to the police, the Divisional Police Officer immediately led a team of operatives to the area, where the attackers were repelled and the assault was foiled. However, the bandits had already shot and killed the community’s vigilante leader, Alhaji Nuhu Barau, before security personnel arrived.

The command said surveillance and patrols had been intensified across the area to track down the fleeing suspects.

Later the same day, at about 5:00 p.m., police received another distress call that protesters had blocked a section of the Malumfashi–Katsina highway, disrupting traffic.

The police said the Divisional Police Officer, supported by military personnel, restored normalcy by dispersing the protesters and reopening the road to motorists.

The command said no arrests had been made and that investigations were ongoing to identify and apprehend those responsible for the attack.

Police spokesperson Abubakar Sadiq urged residents to remain calm and avoid taking the law into their own hands, encouraging them to pursue grievances through lawful channels.

Meanwhile, local sources claimed that another resident was killed during the attack in nearby Gidan Barau village and that the highway remained blocked for about four hours. However, the police have officially confirmed only the death of vigilante leader Alhaji Nuhu Barau.