No fewer than 17 women, including girls, were abducted last night by armed men from Sundu and Biresawa villages, both located in Tsanyawa Local Government Area along the Kano–Katsina border.
The men, suspected to be bandits, invaded both villages while residents had retired for the day, forcefully dragging the helpless victims from their homes to an unknown destination.
Security expert Bakatsine, who confirmed the incident on Tuesday, stated that the villages situated along the Kano–Katsina border have long been exploited by criminal gangs for raids and kidnappings.
“These attacks are increasingly targeting border communities that were once considered relatively safe,” he said, adding that the pattern suggests a dangerous shift in tactics.
Speaking to correspondents, Bakatsine questioned the effectiveness of recent peace efforts in neighbouring Katsina State, where agreements involving Ingawa, Kankia, and Kusada local governments were intended to curb banditry.
“The question now is whether these deals have truly enhanced security or simply displaced the violence to previously unaffected areas,” he warned.
Meanwhile, authorities in Kano State have yet to release an official statement, but residents are calling for urgent intervention to prevent further attacks.
According to the security analyst, community leaders are now emphasising the need for a stronger security presence and swift action to rescue the abducted women.
The Guild reports that the incident highlights ongoing challenges in northwest Nigeria, where banditry and cross-border raids continue to threaten lives and livelihoods, underscoring persistent gaps in law enforcement and regional coordination.
