By, Abdulaziz Bagwai
Renewed bandit incursions from neighboring Katsina State have plunged multiple communities in Shanono and Tsanyawa Local Government Areas into chaos, resulting in the deaths of three villagers and widespread displacement.
The latest assault unfolded on Friday evening, when approximately 20 armed bandits crossed from Kogari village in Katsina and targeted Yanganau village in Tsanyawa. The attackers subsequently advanced into Shanono, where they fatally shot three individuals during a confrontation with a joint security task force on patrol, according to a local resident from Tsanyawa who requested anonymity.
Mr. Muhammed Dauda, a community leader from Kuraku village in Shanono’s Faruruwa area, addressed journalists on Saturday, expressing profound distress over the persistent violence.
He highlighted that residents in the Goron Dutse, Makama, and Tsaure vicinities near Faruruwa are living in constant fear.
“We thought the presence of soldiers, civil defence, and other paramilitary forces would solve the issue, but it’s still the same, it’s like we are challenging them. As I’m talking to you, in the last three days, we have suffered attacks in places like Unguwar Tsamiya, Yaudari, and Yan Ganau. People have been killed and some abducted, including women. Our people now sleep elsewhere for fear of attack; they’ve abandoned their homes. Some who fled to urban centres cannot return,” Dauda recounted.
He further said, “we are urging the President and the new military leadership to critically review this situation and secure our borders with Katsina. Gwarzo and Tsanyawa are also in serious danger because of their proximity to Katsina. The Kano State Governor must take this matter seriously and ensure the borders are properly secured. If urgent action is not taken, the bandits will eventually penetrate deeper into Kano.”
Following warnings from Alhaji Yahaya Umar Bagobiri, chairman of the Shanono Community Security Committee – who detailed prior attacks that killed seven people, rustled around 70 cattle, kidnapped 10 residents, and extracted more than ₦15 million in ransom from affected Fulani-dominated areas – the Kano State Police Command announced days earlier the arrest of two suspected bandits plaguing Shanono following a targeted operation.
The escalating crisis prompted action at the Kano State House of Assembly during Tuesday’s session. Lawmakers Dr. Ali Lawan Kiyawa, representing Shanono Constituency, and Garba Ya’u Gwarmai, representing Ghari/Tsanyawa Constituency, urged security agencies to bolster protections for the vulnerable communities.