Vigilante killed as bandits attack Kano village

Bandits launched a violent assault on Dakwara village in Gwarzo Local Government Area of Kano State early Tuesday morning, resulting in the death of a vigilante and the abduction of a local resident. According to the village head, Usman Ibrahim, the attackers arrived around 4:00 a.m., engaging in sporadic gunfire while demanding motorcycles.

One of the vigilantes attempted to rescue a boy who had been taken hostage, but ultimately succumbed to the gunfire. The abducted youth managed to escape the scene. The armed men initially targeted a man, stealing his motorcycle before proceeding to Dakwara. Following the attack, the bandits moved on to Kadanyar Sallau village, where they seized additional motorcycles before fleeing the area.

Ibrahim reported that the assailants also abducted a man from Getso town, situated in Gwarzo. The abducted individual was reportedly rescued following a confrontation between security forces and the bandits in Kafur Local Government Area, located in Katsina State. During the exchange, some attackers were killed, and many of their stolen motorcycles were recovered.

The village head further revealed that the bandits originated from the eastern flank of Gwarzo, heading towards Kutama, which borders Katsina. Most of the attackers were Fulani from Katsina, rather than those from Kano. Dakwara is only six kilometers from Gwarzo and similarly close to Kutama, rendering the community particularly susceptible to cross-border invasions.

When reached for comment, Capt Zubairu Babatunde, the Public Relations Officer of the 3rd Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Kano, stated that the military had no prior knowledge of the attack. The incident further highlights the increasing frequency of bandit attacks in Kano Local Government Areas, especially those bordering Katsina and Kaduna states.

Residents are urgently demanding a more robust security presence to safeguard border communities from such threats.