Residents of Yankamaye village in Tsanyawa Local Government Area of Kano State were thrown into shock and fear late Saturday night after a group of bandits stormed the community, killing an elderly woman and abducting at least three people. The attackers, who struck while many residents were asleep, carried out the raid quietly and swiftly, leaving the village in confusion.
The incident has raised serious concerns about the security situation in Kano State, a region that has long been considered relatively safer compared to many other northern states battling banditry. Although the state has recorded occasional cases of kidnapping and attacks in rural communities, the scale of recent incidents suggests that criminal groups may be expanding their operations into new areas.
According to local sources, the bandits arrived in the village around midnight. They reportedly rode motorcycles to the outskirts of Yankamaye, where they parked and proceeded on foot to avoid making noise and alerting residents. This tactic has been used in several attacks in northwestern Nigeria, where gunmen often try to avoid early detection by security operatives and local vigilantes.
Once inside the village, the attackers moved straight to targeted houses. In one of the houses, they shot and killed an elderly woman whose identity had yet to be officially confirmed at the time of filing this report. Community members said she may have been shot while trying to raise an alarm or protect younger members of her household.
The bandits then abducted a man from the same compound before moving to another house, where they kidnapped two women. One of the abducted women is said to be the sister-in-law of the ward councillor, a development that has caused additional tension among local leaders.
The Kano State Police Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, confirmed the attack on Sunday. He described the incident as unfortunate and assured the public that the police had begun an intensive operation to track down the attackers and rescue the abducted victims.
“We are doing everything possible to rescue the kidnapped victims and restore calm to the area,” Kiyawa said. He added that tactical police units, local vigilantes, and other security personnel were already combing forests and farmlands near Yankamaye in search of the bandits.
Police authorities also urged residents to remain calm and cooperate with security teams by providing timely information that could assist in the rescue mission.
Residents of Yankamaye village described the attack as sudden and terrifying. Many said they were woken up by gunshots but were too afraid to come out of their homes. Some families hid inside their houses until the gunmen left.
A resident who spoke under anonymity said the attack lasted for more than an hour. “People were asleep when we suddenly heard strange noises and motorcycles. Before we knew what was happening, they had already entered the village. We couldn’t come out because we didn’t know where the gunmen were,” he said.
The resident said the killing of the elderly woman shook the entire village, as she was well known and respected. “She was a mother to many. Everyone is sad and scared,” he added.
According to security sources, the attackers are believed to have escaped through bush routes that connect Tsanyawa to neighbouring communities in Katsina and Jigawa States. These areas often serve as escape routes for armed groups because of their difficult terrain and lack of consistent security presence.
The police spokesperson said the search operation would continue until the victims were safely rescued. Meanwhile, additional officers have been stationed in and around Yankamaye to prevent further attacks.
Banditry has become one of the biggest security challenges in northern Nigeria over the past seven years. The problem is most severe in Zamfara, Kaduna, Niger, Sokoto, and Katsina States, where criminal groups have carried out mass abductions, attacks on villages, cattle rustling, and road ambushes.
While Kano State has not experienced large-scale bandit operations like some of its neighbours, it has recorded sporadic incidents in rural areas bordering other states. Analysts say the movement of bandit groups into new territories is partly due to increased military operations in their former strongholds, which forces them to relocate.
Communities in the northern part of Kano, especially areas close to Kaduna and Katsina, have sometimes reported sighting armed men moving through forests. Security experts have warned that if not addressed, such movements could lead to more attacks like the one in Yankamaye village.
Following the attack, community leaders and local groups are calling for increased security presence in Tsanyawa and neighbouring local government areas. They say many villages feel vulnerable because bandits often strike at night when help is difficult to reach.
Residents also want improved cooperation between security agencies and local vigilantes, who understand the terrain better and can provide immediate support when attacks occur.
A traditional leader in Tsanyawa urged the state government to treat the attack as a warning sign. “Kano has been peaceful for many years. We do not want these problems to enter our communities. The government must act fast,” he said.
As of the time of this report, the three kidnapped victims had not been rescued, but police say they are making progress in tracking the attackers. The community remains tense, with many families staying indoors at night and avoiding travel along isolated routes.