Nigeria, March 11 -- Fear spread across several communities in Katsina State last Friday after a violent clash between rival bandit groups forced residents in more than 10 villages to suspend the weekly Juma'at congregational prayer.

Residents and local officials told PREMIUM TIMES that the gun battle, which lasted several hours, occurred near rural communities bordering Musawa, Kankara and Malumfashi local government areas.

Earlier the same day, residents of Dangani town in Musawa Local Government Area reported that dozens of armed bandits stormed the community in a brazen daytime raid shortly before the Juma'at prayer.

A resident told PREMIUM TIMES that the attackers arrived on more than 70 motorcycles and moved through the town smas...