Residents of Dorayi Chiranchi Quarters in Kano metropolis have been thrown into shock and mourning following the gruesome killing of a 35-year-old woman and her six children.
The victims, identified as Fatima Abubakar and her children — Maimuna (17), Aisha (16), Bashir (13), Abubakar (10), Faruk (7) and Abdussalam (18 months) — were murdered on Friday after assailants reportedly broke into their residence at Dorayi Gidan Kwari.
The Kano State Police Command has arrested three suspects, including the deceased woman’s nephew, Umar Auwalu, who allegedly confessed to the crime.
Neighbours described the attack as unusually brutal, alleging that the assailants locked the victims inside the house before killing them and attempted to set the bodies on fire.
“After hearing their cries, neighbours forced their way into the house, but the attackers had already fled. This is something we have never witnessed before,” a resident, Hamza, said.
Residents further alleged that the suspects joined the victims’ funeral rites, deceiving mourners until their eventual arrest.
Contrary to early reports that the victims were slaughtered, residents said they were killed with heavy metal objects.
“They were not slaughtered. They were hit on their heads with heavy objects. Fatima’s skull was smashed with a sewing machine. It was extremely brutal,” a resident said.
Community members also disclosed that Fatima had reportedly called her siblings moments before the attack, pleading for help. Her mobile phones were later allegedly recovered from the prime suspect.
Some residents linked the killings to a possible family inheritance dispute, though this claim could not be independently verified.
A community member, Munif Yahaya Satatima, who assisted in the arrest of one suspect, alleged that Umar had previously confessed to killing two female relatives in Tudun Yola, Kano, in a similar manner.
“The victims in Tudun Yola were also his relatives. He killed them and set their house on fire. This time, he killed seven because he was not arrested earlier,” Satatima claimed.
The husband of the deceased and father of the children, Bashir, said the tragedy had shattered his life.
“I was at the market when I received a call. When I returned, I saw all of them brutally killed with an axe and heavy metal objects, including a sewing machine,” he said.
He added that the bodies were taken to Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, where doctors confirmed them dead.
“As a Muslim, I believe Allah tests His servants. May Allah reunite us in paradise,” Bashir said tearfully.
Police sources confirmed that the suspects were arrested during an intelligence-led operation conducted between 10:00 p.m. on January 17 and 4:00 a.m. on January 18, 2026.
Those arrested were identified as Umar Auwalu (23) of Sabuwar Gandu Quarters; Isyaku Yakubu (Chebe), 40, of Sagagi Quarters; and Yakubu Abdulaziz (Wawo), 21, of Sabon Gida Sharada Quarters.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, said the operation was carried out on the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
He said items recovered included bloodstained clothes, two mobile phones belonging to the deceased, a cutlass, a club, cash, and other weapons believed to have been used in the attack.
According to Kiyawa, preliminary investigations revealed that Umar Auwalu, described as the leader of the group and a nephew to the deceased, confessed to his involvement and admitted that the syndicate had carried out other violent crimes in the state.
He said investigations were ongoing and that the suspects would be charged to court upon completion.
