The Farin-Ruwa community in Shanono Local Government Area of Kano State has raised an alarm over a surge in deadly bandit attacks allegedly launched from neighbouring Katsina State.
Addressing journalists in Kano on Thursday, the community leader and chairman of the local security committee, Alhaji Yahaya Bagobiri, appealed to both the Federal and State Governments to intervene urgently to halt the worsening insecurity.
Bagobiri said repeated assaults on Farin-Ruwa and nearby villages — including Kuraku, Gorantuse, Saure, and Shadu — have left several residents dead, while property and livestock worth millions of naira have been looted.
“During the recent attacks, many lives were lost, and no fewer than 1,600 cows were stolen,” he said. “We are calling on President Bola Tinubu and Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to come to our rescue. Many residents have already fled to Kano and other towns for safety.”
According to him, the bandits operate with impunity at all hours of the day, often arriving on motorcycles to ransack homes and cart away animals.
He noted that in one of the latest incidents, the attackers wounded several people and stole over 40 cows.
Bagobiri also disclosed that a resident recently regained his freedom after paying a ₦15 million ransom to his abductors.
He lamented that the number of security personnel stationed in the area remains grossly inadequate to counter the well-armed gangs, who reportedly stormed the villages on about 50 motorcycles during Wednesday’s raid.
The community leader urged the Kano State Government to strengthen collaboration with security agencies and called on lawmakers representing Bagwai/Shanono Federal Constituency to intensify their efforts.
“We are appealing to our senator and federal representative to do more, even though they have been trying their best,” he added.
Earlier this month, PUNCH Online reported the arrest of a suspect, Usman Lawan Baba, also known as Yellow, by the Kano State Police Command in connection with a series of kidnapping and armed robbery cases, including the 2023 abduction of the Village Head of Garun Babba.