Residents of Biresawa village in the Tsanyawa Local Government Area were thrown into panic on Monday night after armed bandits stormed the community, abducting at least eight people and leaving neighbours in fear of further attacks.
According to eyewitnesses, the raid took place between 11 pm and midnight, with the assailants described as heavily armed.
Locals reported that the attackers came from the nearby Tsundu village and targeted both men and women.
“They came as usual, and from what we have seen, two men and six women were taken.
”There is no news of their whereabouts yet,” said one community member. Kabiru Usman, a relative of some of the victims, recounted the horrifying ordeal: “They arrived on foot, armed with guns. They kidnapped my wife, Umma; my 17-year-old daughter, Fati; my brother’s wife; and two other women. We tried to resist, but we were outmatched.”
Residents said they had alerted security forces after noticing suspicious movements prior to the attack, but the bandits managed to escape into neighbouring Katsina State before the police and local vigilantes could respond effectively.
Other nearby communities, including Sarmawa, Yan Chibi, and Gano villages, also reported incursions by bandits.
A resident of Yan Chibi described how roughly 50 armed men on motorcycles stormed the area, firing shots into the air and abducting several women and men before fleeing.
Local vigilante groups confirmed mobilising in anticipation of an attack but were unable to intercept the perpetrators.
“Families are now afraid to sleep in their homes at night,” said a member of a local vigilante group, underscoring the growing climate of fear across the region.
Police authorities have confirmed the attack. Kano State Police Public Relations Officer Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa said investigations are ongoing, and the exact number of abducted victims is yet to be verified.
This latest raid occurs amid a wave of kidnappings across northern states.
In recent days, gunmen have abducted students in Kebbi, Kwara, and Niger States.
In Kebbi, 25 schoolgirls were kidnapped, while a senior staff member was killed.
In Niger, 303 students and 12 teachers at St Mary’s Catholic School were seized, with about 50 pupils escaping. Kwara State saw 38 worshippers abducted from Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku during a midweek service, all of whom were later released.
Several states, including Katsina, Taraba, Plateau, Kebbi, and Bauchi, have temporarily closed schools as a precaution.
The federal government also shut down 47 Unity Colleges nationwide. In response, President Bola Tinubu ordered enhanced security cordons and expanded Air Force surveillance in vulnerable areas, including Kwara, Kebbi, and Niger States.
The growing frequency and boldness of such attacks highlight the urgent security challenges facing northern Nigeria, with communities increasingly vulnerable to armed gangs and banditry.
