A neighbour of the massacred Kano family has provided chilling testimony about the January 17, 2026 killing of Fatima Abubakar (35) and her six children in Dorayi Chiranchi Quarters, Kano State.
The attack, described by residents as one of the most horrific in recent memory, has heightened concerns over violent crime and security in urban Kano communities.
According to neighbours who spoke with journalists, unknown assailants forced their way into the family’s home in the afternoon and launched a brutal assault that left all seven victims dead.
One neighbour recalled that the attackers used heavy objects, including a sewing machine, to inflict fatal head injuries on the children and the woman, a level of violence that shocked residents.
The deceased children were identified as Maimuna (17), Aisha (16), Bashir (13), Abubakar (10), Faruk (7), and Abdussalam (about 1½), while the woman was named as Fatima Abubakar. Their bodies were taken to Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital, Kano, where medical personnel confirmed they were dead.
The Kano State Police Command confirmed that three suspects have been arrested in connection with the killings, including the principal suspect, 23-year-old Umar Auwalu, who is a nephew of the deceased woman.
Police said Umar led the group and confessed to the crime during interrogation. Two other suspects were identified as Isyaku Yakubu (40) and Yakubu Abdulaziz (21).
The arrests followed an intelligence-led operation ordered by the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and supervised by the Commissioner of Police in Kano, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori. The operation took place between late Friday night and the early hours of January 18, 2026.
Items recovered from the suspects included bloodstained clothing, two mobile phones belonging to the victims, a cutlass, a club (gora), and cash believed to have been taken during the attack, according to the police.
Residents described the attack as “brazen and shocking.” One neighbour said the perpetrators locked the house before committing the murders, leaving neighbours horrified by the level of violence.
The massacre has drawn condemnation from public figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who labelled the killings as “senseless violence against innocent Nigerians” and urged security agencies to ensure justice is served swiftly.
The brutality of the incident has sparked broader discussion about urban security in Kano and the efficacy of existing safety measures. Residents expressed deep concern about how such violence could occur in a dense urban neighbourhood and called for enhanced surveillance, community policing, and stronger collaboration between security agencies and local communities.
Authorities are continuing investigations to determine the precise motive behind the attack and whether it was linked to a family dispute or other criminal networks. Investigators are also exploring whether the suspects’ alleged involvement in previous violent crimes may have contributed to the tragedy.
For urban residents and policymakers in Kano and beyond, this massacre highlights persistent security vulnerabilities in densely populated quarters. It underscores the need for improved intelligence gathering, rapid response capabilities, and community engagement strategies to prevent such tragedies and protect families in Nigeria’s urban heartlands.
