Kano, Nigeria — November 11, 2025:
Tension has gripped communities in Kabo Local Government Area of Kano State following a fresh attack by suspected bandits, who abducted five nursing mothers and carted away dozens of livestock during a violent overnight raid.
Residents said the attack, which occurred in the early hours of Monday, left several people injured and forced many families to flee their homes in panic.
How the Attack Happened
Eyewitnesses told reporters that the heavily armed attackers stormed Fankurun Village around 1:00 a.m., shooting sporadically and moving from house to house.
“They came in large numbers on motorcycles, armed with guns and machetes,” said Malam Musa Garba, a resident who narrowly escaped.
“They broke into homes, took valuables, and abducted five nursing mothers, including two who had just given birth a few weeks ago.”
The bandits reportedly operated for over two hours without resistance, rustling an unspecified number of cattle, goats, and sheep before escaping into the nearby Rugu Forest, which stretches across parts of Kano, Katsina, and Kaduna states.
Another resident, Hauwa Ibrahim, said villagers were still counting their losses.
“They took away all our cows and even food items. People are afraid to return because we don’t know if they will come back,” she said tearfully.
Security Response
Confirming the incident, a senior police officer attached to the Kano State Police Command said tactical teams had been deployed to the affected area to rescue the victims and pursue the attackers.
“Yes, we received a distress call around 2:30 a.m., and operatives were immediately mobilised,” the officer said.
“Search and rescue operations are ongoing, and we are working with local vigilantes and hunters to trace the bandits’ route.”
The spokesperson for the Kano State Police Command, SP Abdullahi Kiyawa, also confirmed the attack in a brief statement, assuring that efforts were underway to ensure the safe release of the abducted women.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Salman Dogo Garba, has directed the deployment of special units to Kabo LGA,” Kiyawa said.
“We are in touch with neighbouring commands and the military to strengthen surveillance in border communities.”
Community in Fear
Local leaders have described the attack as one of the most violent in recent months.
They urged the state government to boost security presence in rural areas increasingly targeted by criminal gangs.
Alhaji Ahmad Dandago, a community leader in the area, lamented that residents now live in constant fear.
“This is the third attack in less than two months. People cannot farm, trade, or sleep peacefully anymore,” Dandago said.
“We appeal to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to take urgent action before our communities are completely deserted.”
Background: Banditry Expands Northwards
While Kano State has traditionally been less affected by large-scale banditry compared to neighbouring Katsina and Zamfara, recent months have seen a disturbing rise in attacks in Kabo, Rano, Doguwa, and Sumaila areas.
Security experts attribute the surge to displacement of criminal gangs from military operations in the North-West, which has pushed bandits into border communities of Kano.
According to the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), over 1,200 people were abducted across Northern Nigeria between January and October 2025, with many attacks occurring in previously safe states like Kano and Jigawa.
Livestock Theft and Economic Impact
The rustling of livestock has also deepened economic hardship for rural families whose livelihoods depend on animal rearing.
Farmers and herders in Kabo and neighbouring areas said repeated raids have crippled the local cattle trade and forced several markets to close.
“Our people depend on cows and goats for income. When bandits take them, it means hunger,” said Bala Wada, a herder who lost seven cows in the latest attack.
“Even when you report, there’s little help because the bandits know the terrain better than the security men.”
Government Reaction
The Kano State Government has condemned the attack, promising swift action to rescue the abducted women and recover the stolen livestock.
In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information, Halilu Dantiye, the government described the incident as “cowardly and unacceptable,” assuring that the state’s security council was meeting to review new measures.
“Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has directed security agencies to intensify patrols and intelligence gathering.
We will not allow criminals to undermine peace and development in our rural communities,” the statement said.
Military Operations Ongoing
Meanwhile, military sources confirmed that troops under Operation Whirl Punch and Operation Hadarin Daji are coordinating with local police commands to flush out criminal elements fleeing from neighbouring states.
An officer stationed in Kaduna, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said security forces have increased aerial surveillance around the Rugu Forest axis, believed to serve as a major base for bandit groups operating across the region.
“We are monitoring their movement closely. The goal is to intercept them before they cross into other states,” he said.
Growing Humanitarian Concern
The abduction of the five nursing mothers has sparked outrage among humanitarian and women’s rights groups, who have called for stronger protection for women and children in conflict-prone areas.
Women Arise Initiative, a Kano-based advocacy group, described the incident as a “grave violation of human rights.”
“Targeting nursing mothers is an inhumane act that underscores the worsening insecurity in Northern Nigeria,” said the group’s coordinator, Mrs. Fatima Suleiman.
“Government must prioritise the rescue of these women and ensure perpetrators face justice.”
Conclusion
As security agencies intensify search efforts, the fate of the abducted mothers remains uncertain.
Residents say they are hopeful but wary, fearing that the latest attack may embolden other criminal gangs if urgent action is not taken.
For many rural dwellers in Kano’s border communities, Monday’s incident is a grim reminder that banditry is spreading northward, threatening peace, livelihoods, and the safety of the most vulnerable.
