Residents of a quiet farming settlement in Kano State endured a night of terror as armed bandits launched a deadly assault, leaving a trail of death, abduction, and destruction. The attack on Unguwar Tsamiya in the Dabawa area of Shanono Local Government Area has sent shockwaves through border communities already living in fear.
Night of Terror in Unguwar Tsamiya
The violence erupted shortly after midnight on Monday, shattering the peace in the agrarian community. According to eyewitness accounts, the attackers arrived on motorcycles and immediately began firing shots into the air. They then proceeded to break into homes, beating residents and seizing victims.
The assailants successfully abducted eleven people, comprising nine men and two women. A nursing mother was among those taken, highlighting the brutality of the raid. The bandits also rustled two cows before setting homes ablaze and looting valuable property, displacing terrified families.
A local villager, who spoke on condition of anonymity out of fear, captured the community's helplessness. "They came, shot into the air, beat many people and succeeded in taking 11 people with them. We cannot leave because this is our land. We have nowhere else to go," the source lamented.
Security Lapses and Rising Border Tensions
Alarmingly, community leaders in Shanono revealed they had alerted security agencies about suspicious movements hours before the attack. Yahaya Bagobiri, head of the Faruruwa community security committee, stated that residents spotted the bandits in the Kogari area as early as 7:00 PM on Sunday and immediately informed the authorities.
"We informed security agencies but they said they had not been given any order," Bagobiri disclosed, pointing to a critical gap in the emergency response. This incident occurred less than 24 hours after gunmen raided Yan Kamaye in neighbouring Tsanyawa LGA, kidnapping three people. Both local government areas lie on Kano's volatile boundary with Katsina State, a region plagued by severe banditry for years.
The consecutive attacks have triggered renewed anxiety across villages in these border regions, which have suffered repeated incursions in recent weeks. Residents note disturbing similarities between the unfolding pattern and the early stages of bandit infiltration witnessed in other northwestern states.
Arrests in Metropolis Heighten Public Anxiety
In a related development that intensified concerns about the spread of bandit activity, four suspected bandits were arrested on Monday at the busy Kofar Ruwa Motor Park in Kano city. Witnesses reported that fellow travellers discovered weapons hidden inside the suspects' bags as they attempted to board a vehicle.
Security operatives were promptly alerted and took the individuals into custody. "People in the park noticed the weapons and alerted security personnel, who immediately arrested them," said a resident, Musa Balarabe. The arrests caused panic at the transport hub, a critical link connecting Kano to Katsina, Jigawa, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, and the Niger Republic.
While Kano State has historically enjoyed more stability than its neighbours, the repeated incursions into Tsanyawa and Shanono LGAs signal a potentially widening security gap along its borders. Villagers now fear that continued attacks could trigger mass displacement from farming communities already grappling with significant economic pressures.
At the time of reporting, security agencies were still gathering information on Monday's incidents. Police spokesperson, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, confirmed that the command was collating details. Meanwhile, security forces have launched a coordinated pursuit of the attackers and assured residents of reinforced deployments to prevent further attacks.
