Families in Tsanyawa Local Government Area of Kano State are living in fear after bandits who kidnapped 10 residents threatened to kill the victims if their families fail to pay the demanded ransom. The warning has caused panic across several villages in the area, with family members appealing to the government and security agencies for urgent help.
The bandits reportedly issued the threats through the father of one of the kidnapped victims, using him as the main contact person to deliver their demands to other affected families. Speaking in a radio interview on Sunday, the man shared the emotional ordeal he has faced since the abductions occurred.
According to him, the kidnappers call him repeatedly every day, sometimes three or four times, pressuring him to convince the families to pay large sums of money. He said the ransom amounts being demanded are far beyond anything the villagers can afford.
“They on daily basis call me thrice or even four times, warning me to abide by their requests or they would kill our family members,” he explained.
The man said he tried to plead with the bandits, telling them that the families in the village are poor farmers who do not have the kind of money being demanded. Instead, they own only farmlands and small livestock, which they rely on for survival.
“I told them that the money they are asking for, we have never seen that kind of money, and what we only have is our farmlands with small animals,” he said.
During the interview, the distressed father made a passionate appeal to Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to intervene before the victims are harmed. His voice, filled with emotion, reflected the fear and frustration felt by the entire community.
“We ask you, our Governor, in the name of God, please help us. They are killing our sons,” he lamented.
Parents, siblings, and neighbours of the kidnapped victims are said to be spending sleepless nights as they await updates from the kidnappers or security operatives. Some residents have gathered in groups to pray for the safe return of their loved ones, while others have travelled to different villages seeking support.
For many years, Kano State was considered relatively safe compared to other states in the North-West. However, recent incidents show that banditry is spreading into areas that were previously peaceful.
Tsanyawa, located in the northern part of Kano, shares borders with parts of Katsina State, where banditry has been a major challenge. Security analysts say that bandits sometimes cross into neighbouring states to launch surprise attacks, kidnap villagers, or steal livestock before retreating into forests.
Although Kano has not experienced the level of large-scale attacks seen in Zamfara, Kaduna, or Niger States, the recent kidnapping incidents have raised concerns about the shifting pattern of insecurity in the region.
Community members say the threats from the bandits have made the situation even more frightening. Some of the kidnapped victims are young men who support their families, while others are parents with children depending on them. With no ransom money available, families feel helpless.
A mother whose son is among the abducted described the situation as heartbreaking. She could not speak on radio because of emotional distress, but neighbours said she cried for hours after hearing the kidnappers’ threats.
“They don’t know where to get the money,” a neighbour explained. “Even if they sell all their farm produce, it cannot meet the amount being demanded.”
Although the exact details of the ongoing rescue efforts were not made public, security sources say that police and local vigilante groups have been mobilised to track the kidnappers. Tsanyawa is surrounded by bushes and farmlands, which bandits often use as hideouts, making operations challenging.
The Kano State Police Command has in recent months increased patrols in rural areas after reports of bandit movements near communities bordering Katsina. However, villagers say the kidnappers are becoming more daring, especially at night.
The situation in Tsanyawa mirrors the broader security crisis affecting many parts of northern Nigeria. Banditry, kidnapping for ransom, cattle rustling, and attacks on rural settlements have become common, forcing many communities to live in constant fear.
In states like Kaduna, Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, and Niger, hundreds of people have been kidnapped this year alone. Schools, markets, and highways have also been targeted. The federal government has deployed military forces and special police units to several states, but the problem continues due to the large forest areas used by criminal groups.
While efforts continue to rescue the victims, families in Tsanyawa are left waiting anxiously. Some are selling personal belongings in the hope of raising funds, even though the demanded ransom remains far beyond their reach. Others are relying on prayers and appeals for government intervention.
The father who spoke on radio summed up the community’s desperate situation: “We don’t have money, but we don’t want to lose our children.”