Residents of Gurbi, a community in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State, were thrown into panic on Friday following an unusual bandit attack allegedly facilitated by a helicopter that dropped armed men in the area.

According to reports shared by security analyst Bakatsine on his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Monday, the helicopter landed around Kuka Mai Zuma, a section of Gurbi village, before deploying the armed bandits who immediately launched their assault.

"It didn't even take up to five minutes after the helicopter dropped them that they opened fire," narrated a local resident in Hausa, in a video accompanying the security analyst's post. "They shot at least 10 people who were taken to the hospital."

The bandits reportedly operated for approximately two hours, conducting a systematic house-to-house raid during which they rustled livestock and looted personal belongings of the villagers.

"They didn't leave a single animal behind. They took everything: cows, goats, rams and even burnt vehicles," the eyewitness recounted. At least 10 vehicles were reportedly set ablaze during the attack.

The incident has raised serious concerns about the escalating security situation in Katsina State, which has been battling with banditry for several years. More worrying is the alleged use of a helicopter to transport the attackers, suggesting a potentially new and more sophisticated approach by criminal groups operating in the region.

Several residents are reportedly still unaccounted for following the attack, raising fears about possible abductions or casualties beyond the 10 injured victims who were confirmed to have been taken to hospital.

As of the time of filing this report, authorities have yet to release an official statement regarding the incident, including verification of the alleged helicopter involvement or the current status of the victims.

This attack comes amid ongoing security challenges in Nigeria's northwestern states, where banditry, kidnapping, and cattle rustling have become persistent problems despite military operations in the region.