Suspected bandits have unleashed another wave of terror in parts of Kano State, killing seven residents, abducting ten others, and stealing dozens of cattle in a coordinated assault on villages within the Shanono Local Government Area.
Eyewitnesses said the attackers, numbering around 50, stormed the area on motorcycles, firing sporadically as they moved from one village to another.
The assailants reportedly crossed into Kano from neighbouring Katsina State before launching the deadly raid, which left families grieving and many residents fleeing their homes.
According to community sources, the affected villages include Faruruwa, Kuraku, Gorondutse, Tsaura, and Yanshadu—all of which have come under repeated attacks in recent months.
It was gathered that the bandits not only killed residents but also made away with about 70 cows and allegedly collected over ₦15 million in ransom from the largely Fulani communities.
Speaking to journalists on Thursday, Chairman of the Shanono Community Security Committee, Alhaji Yahaya Umar Gogobir, said the assault on Faruruwa village had further deepened the sense of insecurity in the area.
“The night raid left families shattered and communities in fear. These gunmen are becoming more daring by the day, and our people no longer feel safe in their own homes,” Gogobir lamented.
He revealed that the region had suffered repeated invasions since 2022, with over ten prominent community members killed and more than 1,600 livestock stolen.
“We have paid several million in ransom to these criminals, yet the attacks keep coming,” he added.
Gogobir blamed the rising insecurity on inadequate security presence, noting that the few operatives deployed to the area are overwhelmed and under-equipped.
“Imagine having just ten joint task force officers and one operational vehicle to cover all our communities. How can they repel 50 armed bandits who ride freely on motorcycles?” he queried.
He further alleged that the bandits operate with little or no resistance from security forces.
“They attack at any hour, morning, afternoon, or night, and stay for hours without response. Our people are now relocating to Kano city out of fear,” he said.
The community leader appealed to both the state and federal governments to urgently intervene before the crisis escalates beyond control.
“If the government fails to act quickly, we may face a total collapse of local security and economic life in Shanono. We are pleading for immediate intervention to save our people,” Gogobir warned.
Security analysts say the latest incident underscores the growing movement of armed groups between Kano and Katsina states, heightening concerns about rural safety and the spread of banditry across North-West Nigeria.