A housewife and her six children were brutally killed in their home in Dorayi Chiranci, in the ancient city of Kano, police and local residents say. The incident happened on Saturday, January 17, 2026, and has left the community in shock and mourning.
The victims were identified as Fatima Abubakar (35) and her six children, who were attacked by yet-to-be-identified hoodlums using dangerous weapons at the residence of Haruna Bashir, neighbours told reporters. Officers responded to a distress call received at about 12:10 p.m. and discovered the bodies after the attackers fled.
Police spokesperson CSP Abdullahi Haruna confirmed the killings and said the command has launched a thorough investigation to find and arrest the perpetrators.
“The victims were attacked with dangerous weapons, resulting in fatal injuries,” he said, adding that the Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, ordered a team led by senior officers to secure the scene and pursue leads.
Officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), led by Assistant Commissioner of Police Wada Jarma, have been instructed to conduct detailed inquiries, collect evidence, and interview eyewitnesses as part of efforts to bring those responsible to justice.
The bodies were taken to Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital, Kano, where they were formally pronounced dead.
Local residents described the attack as horrifying and unprecedented, saying the violence has caused fear across the community. Many have called on authorities to increase patrols and security presence in the area to prevent further attacks and reassure the public.
The motive and identity of the assailants remain unclear, and police have not yet reported any arrests. Neighbours said they are cooperating with investigators by sharing information that could help solve the case and have appealed to law enforcement to act quickly.
Authorities have extended condolences to the family of the victims and the people of Dorayi Chiranci and Kano State, emphasising the importance of community cooperation in providing information that can aid the investigation.
This tragic attack has added to concerns about violent crime in parts of northern Nigeria, where isolated but devastating incidents have periodically affected families and heightened calls for strengthened security measures.
