Armed bandits stormed a joyous wedding celebration in Batsari Local Government Area of Katsina State Saturday night, gunning down the groom's brother and another guest while abducting scores amid the Radda administration's controversial bandit swap deals that freed 70 suspects just days prior. Eyewitnesses recounted over 50 gunmen on motorcycles roaring into the community around 10pm, spraying AK-47 fire that sent dancing guests scrambling into bushes, with victims' cries echoing as hoodlums rounded up men and women for forest treks demanding millions in ransoms. The attack, hitting frontline Safana-Batsari axis where peace pacts crumbled faster than New Year resolutions, left blood-soaked mats and empty chairs, families wailing for intervention as troops arrived post-dusk.
This fresh outrage explodes days after state Justice Ministry's leaked memo begged courts to spring 70 low-level bandits for "pact compliance," with Commissioner Nasir Muazu boasting 1,000 hostages freed – but victims slam recycled thugs fueling January's 70-plus kills across 15 LGAs. PRO DSP Abubakar Aliyu confirmed the raid Sunday, vowing kinetic ops, but locals roast thin security post-surrender spikes, tying it to Defence Minister Badaru's sponsor hunts and CDS Musa's no-mercy vows ignored in swap fever. Wedding kin buried the dead Monday, bride's family hawking livestock for N50 million drops, whispers of informant moles greasing bikes.
Katsina erupts – protests torch markets, CAN and MURIC blast blood bargains, emirs distance from deals as federal eyes EFCC clawbacks. Radda's camp clings to "tangible calm," but streets scream surrender after mosque slaughters and farm taxes choke harvests. With Kano defections and Rivers probes fading, Batsari's bridal graves spotlight Northwest hell – peace pacts or bandit pardons? Troops hunt shadows, families pay ransoms, Nigeria questions swap math as forests claim more souls.