Dare Babalola
At least eight residents of Biresawa village in Kano State’s Tsanyawa Local Government Area have been abducted by armed bandits, sparking fresh fear and anxiety in the community.
Sources close to the matter told The Pathfinder that the attackers invaded the village under the cover of darkness, between 11pm and midnight on Monday, with calculated precision.
“They came as usual, two males and six females were taken away by the bandits. Up till now, there is no news on their whereabouts,” one source told our correspondent.
According to Kabiru Usman, a family member of some of the abductees, the gunmen infiltrated the village from neighboring Tsundu, catching residents off guard.
“They came 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 stop them, but our weapons were no match for their guns,” Usman said.
Residents claimed they had previously alerted the police and military about the impending attack, having received intelligence that the assailants were heading towards their villages.
“We notified the security agencies because they gave us their numbers and asked us to call if we got any information,” a resident said.
Multiple communities were reportedly attacked the same night, including Sarmawa, Yan Chibi, and Gano villages in Tsanyawa LGA. A witness from Yan Chibi recounted how about 50 bandits riding motorcycles stormed the area, firing into the air and forcing residents to flee.
“We later discovered they had abducted mostly women. I can confirm to you that over 10 people were taken,” he added.
A vigilante source confirmed that community watch groups had earlier reported suspicious movements, prompting mobilization. However, after the abductions, attempts to chase the bandits failed as they escaped toward Katsina State.
The persistent attacks in Tsanyawa, Shanono, and Bagwai LGAs have led to mass displacement, with many families abandoning their homes nightly or permanently relocating to Faruruwa town and other urban areas for safety.
The Kano State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abdullahi Kiyawa, had not responded to calls as of the time of filing this report.
This latest attack comes just weeks after bandits invaded Yan Kwada village in the Faruruwa community of Shanono LGA, abducting five women, including nursing mothers. That assault occurred shortly after a joint military operation in the area neutralised 19 suspected bandits.
The wave of insecurity continues to leave rural communities on edge, as authorities face increasing pressure to restore safety and order.
