Kano State is regarded as a peaceful state, but recent killings in the state in the last one month have left many wondering what's happening in the North-western state, writes Longtong YAKUBU
In the space of barely one month, Kano has witnessed a troubling pattern of violent attacks that has shaken communities, revived deep-seated fears, and raised urgent questions about security, social cohesion and justice in one of Nigeria's most populous states.
From the killing of women and children in their homes to the murder of a cleric inside a mosque, the incidents form a grim narrative of a city grappling with an unsettling rise in brutality.
The most shocking of these attacks occurred on 17 January 2026, in Dorayi Chiranchi Quarters of Kano metropolis, where assailants stormed the residence of Haruna Bashir in broad daylight. By the time neighbours and vigilantes could mobilise, seven members of one family had been killed: a 35-year-old housewife, Fatima Abubakar, and her six children--two daughters and four sons. The attack, which reportedly took place around midday, left the community stunned by both its scale and cruelty.
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Family members recount harrowing moments leading up to the tragedy. Rabiu Abubakar, a brother to the 35-year-old housewife, said he had spoken with his sister earlier that day. When she later called again, urging him to alert relatives and come quickly, they assumed it was a medical emergency. "We did not imagine her life was in danger," he said. By the time relatives arrived and gained access to the house, it was already too late.
Neighbours were in confusion and panic as words spread that attackers had entered the compound. One resident said people rushed in with members of the local vigilante group before police arrived. The discovery of the bodies, including that of a child reportedly found in a well within the compound, deepened the horror.
For Sadiya Abubakar, the younger sister of Fatima, the pain is compounded by regret. She recalled that Fatima tried to reach her through a neighbour when her own phone battery went flat. "She was trying to inform me that she and her children were in danger," she said. "By the time we arrived, everything had ended. They had been killed."
Yet Dorayi was not an isolated case. Weeks earlier, on 13 December 2025, fear had descended on Sheka Sabuwar Gandu community in Kano Municipal Local Government Area following the killing of a pregnant woman and her 18-month-old son. The tragedy was discovered when the husband returned from work and found the house locked. With the help of neighbours, he forced his way in and saw the lifeless bodies of his wife and child.
Community leader Ahmad Sani said residents were shocked, describing the area as previously peaceful. He lamented the absence of security personnel despite the construction of a police outpost in the community. "There is no security presence here, and this worries us greatly," he said, calling on the state police command to urgently strengthen patrols to prevent a recurrence.
Just two days after that incident, violence struck again--this time inside a place of worship. On 15 December 2025, an elderly cleric, Ladan Zubairu, was attacked and killed at Yusuf Garko Mosque in Maraba Quarters while carrying out his early-morning religious duties. The killing sparked outrage, and an angry mob pursued and lynched the suspect, setting his residence ablaze before security personnel intervened to restore order.
The cleric's son, Isa Kasim, said his father was well known in the community and followed a consistent routine at dawn. "He went out to call Muslims to prayer as he always did," he said. The sudden loss of a man described as a respected elder in such a sacred space left residents grappling with both grief and anger.
Even earlier, on 12 November 2025, the Tudun Yola community in Gwale Local Government Area had been thrown into mourning after two women were killed in their home, which was later set on fire by unidentified attackers. Their husband, Ashiru Shuibu, returned from work to find smoke rising from the house and his greetings unanswered. CCTV footage later showed unknown individuals moving around the compound in broad daylight.
"These women were living peacefully," Shuibu said, struggling to comprehend the violence. The incident reinforced fears that attackers were operating with a disturbing level of confidence and impunity.
As these cases accumulated, a troubling pattern began to emerge: attacks occurring within residential areas, often in daylight, sometimes involving people known to the victims, and leaving communities questioning how such acts could happen unnoticed.
Security agencies insist they are responding. Following the Dorayi Chiranchi killings, the Kano State Police Command announced the arrest of three principal suspects after an intelligence-led operation ordered by the Inspector-General of Police. Among those arrested was Umar Auwalu, a 23-year-old man alleged to be a nephew of the deceased woman. Police said he confessed to leading the group responsible for the attack and linked them to other violent crimes, including the Tudun Yola killings.
The revelation that a family member could be involved added another layer of shock and raised questions about deep-rooted social and familial tensions. For many residents, it reinforced fears that violence is no longer only an external threat but one that can emerge from within trusted circles.
The state government has responded with a strong warning as Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf vowed that anyone found guilty of the Dorayi killings would face the full weight of the law. Directing the state Attorney General to fast-track prosecution, he said the state would pursue justice to its logical conclusion as a deterrent to future crimes. His comments echoed public frustration and a demand for accountability.
Beyond arrests and prosecutions, experts argue that Kano's recent wave of violence reflects deeper structural problems.
Dr Idris Salisu Rogo, a lecturer in educational psychology at Bayero University, Kano, points to a mix of social disorganisation, economic hardship and weakened communal bonds. According to him, when people feel unseen and unheard, and when criminal acts are not swiftly punished, society creates fertile ground for violence.
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He also highlights unemployment, youth restlessness, drug abuse and the breakdown of family structures as contributing factors. "When lawful means of earning a living are blocked, some individuals resort to crime," he said, warning that without community organisation and effective justice, criminal behaviour becomes normalised.
Dr Rogo stressed the importance of community policing, youth engagement and the revival of communal responsibility. He also called on religious leaders to emphasise the sanctity of human life in their teachings, rather than focusing solely on doctrinal differences.
For many residents, the recent killings have shattered a sense of safety once associated with Kano's close-knit neighbourhoods. Questions linger: Where were the neighbours? How could attackers operate for so long without intervention? And what must change to stop the cycle?
As Kano mourns its dead--from women and children killed in their homes to a cleric slain in a mosque--the state stands at a crossroads. Whether the recent arrests, the government's resolve, and renewed calls for community action will be enough to stem the tide remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that the past 30 days have left scars that will not easily fade, and a collective demand that violence must not become the new normal.
