Abuja — The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has raised alarm over a looming security crisis in Sukuntuni, Kankiya Local Government Area of Katsina State, warning that residents have fled en masse following threats from suspected bandits.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Executive Director of MURIC, Ishaq Akintola, disclosed that the affected Muslim communities abandoned their homes after receiving a letter allegedly from bandits demanding 700 cows and 1,000 sheep to avert an ആക്രമation.
According to the group, the ultimatum, reportedly issued on Monday, April 6, gave residents until Friday, April 10, 2026, to comply or face violent invasion.
MURIC said it had obtained a video clip showing hundreds of residents fleeing the communities, trekking in distress in search of safety. The exodus, it noted, affected a wide stretch of settlements from Kankiya to Musawa, Chuga, and Matazu.
Describing the development as tragic, the organisation lamented the growing wave of insecurity across northern Nigeria, stating that the situation reflects a broader national crisis.
The group called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to prioritise security, stressing that the protection of lives and property remains the constitutional responsibility of government under Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution.
MURIC also urged the Ministry of Defence to intensify efforts in addressing the escalating threats, warning that vulnerable communities, particularly women and children, are bearing the brunt of the violence.
The organisation further challenged prevailing narratives around targeted religious violence, asserting that victims of banditry and terrorism cut across faiths. It maintained that the attacks are driven by criminal motives rather than religious persecution.
“The situation in Sukuntuni underscores the urgent need for decisive and coordinated security interventions to prevent further humanitarian crises,” the statement added.
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