Kano State has recorded another deadly security incident after armed gunmen invaded a community in Rogo Local Government Area, abducting the chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the council, Alhaji Abdullahi Fanka, and killing two residents who reportedly attempted to resist the operation.

The attack occurred late Monday night at about 11pm, according to residents who spoke about the incident, with the assailants reportedly opening sporadic gunfire as they moved through the community. The shooting forced residents to flee their homes and seek safety as the attackers proceeded towards Fanka’s location.

A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of security concerns, said two people were killed while trying to prevent the gunmen from taking away the APC chairman.

The resident explained that the attackers were heavily armed and overpowered those who attempted to intervene before escaping with Fanka. The circumstances surrounding the chairman’s whereabouts remained unclear as of the time of the reports, while no group had publicly claimed responsibility for the attack.

The incident has heightened anxiety across parts of Kano, coming less than 24 hours after another attack in which the APC chairman of Rantan Ward in Bebeji Local Government Area, Alhaji Garba Buba, was killed alongside another resident, identified as Sulaiman Zunduma.

The Rantan attack was followed by the Rogo incident, creating renewed concern among residents and political actors over the safety of communities and political figures in rural parts of the state. Reports indicate that the two incidents occurred within roughly a day of each other.

Series of attacks raises fresh security concerns

The latest abduction is also coming after another security incident in Chiromawa community, Garun Mallam Local Government Area, where suspected bandits reportedly attacked residents and abducted the Sarkin Noman Kano, Alhaji Yusif Nadabo.

Nadabo was later rescued following a response involving security personnel and local residents. Three people were reportedly injured during the incident.

The succession of attacks in Rogo, Bebeji and Garun Mallam has raised fresh concerns about the security situation in neighbouring communities across Kano State, with residents increasingly worried about the activities of suspected bandits and kidnappers.

The development also comes against the backdrop of renewed federal efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture. The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Muhammad Matawalle, announced on Monday that the Federal Government was working on a five-year defence and security plan, following recent security challenges across parts of the country, including the incidents in Kano.

The Kano State Police Command had previously launched investigations into the killing of Garba Buba and Sulaiman Zunduma in Bebeji, while security agencies have continued efforts to respond to the growing threats in vulnerable communities.

However, at the time the latest reports were filed, attempts to obtain an immediate official reaction from the Kano State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, were unsuccessful. Calls to his telephone line reportedly went unanswered, while a WhatsApp message seeking an update had not received a response.

The latest attack has therefore added to mounting pressure on security agencies to intensify operations in rural communities, protect residents and political leaders, and prevent the repeated attacks from escalating further.

As of the latest reports, Fanka remained in the custody of his abductors, while the identities and whereabouts of the attackers had not been officially established.