People who live in Dorayi Chiranchi Quarters in Kano city, where a woman and her six children were slaughtered on Friday, told how it happened yesterday.
Reports from Daily Trust say that the woman’s husband and the children’s father said the event had ruined his life.
Reports say that attackers broke into Fatima Abubakar’s home in Dorayi Gidan Kwari and killed her and her six children: Maimuna (17), Aisha (16), Bashir (13), Abubakar (10), Faruk (7), and Abdussalam (1.5 years old).
The state police have detained three people, including Fatima’s nephew Umar Auwalu, who is claimed to have admitted to the murder.
People who live nearby told our reporter yesterday that the attack was bold and shocking.
Aminu Hamza, who lives next door, alleged that the suspects closed the house before killing the victims and tried to set their bodies on fire.
“Neighbors broke into the house after hearing the victims’ screams, but the assailants had already run away. We had never seen anything like this before. Hamza stated, “The violence is beyond understanding.”
He further said that the suspects were at the burial and “deceived mourners until their arrest.”
Kabiru Ibrahim, another resident, reported that a sewing machine broke Fatima’s skull.
“Contrary to what has been said, they were not killed but beaten in the head with heavy metals. “It was awful,” he remarked.
Residents also said that Fatima had contacted her brothers and sisters just before the incident and begged them for help.
People say they recovered her phones later with Umar.
People in the area also said that the incident was the result of a fight over an inheritance. Our correspondent could not confirm this on their own.
Munif Yahaya Satatima, another neighbor who helped catch one of the suspects, revealed that Umar had admitted to killing two housewives in the same way in the Tudun Yola district of Kano before.
“The victims in Tudun Yola were also his family. He slaughtered them and burned down their house. Satatima said, “This time he killed seven people because he wasn’t arrested after the first time.”
I’m heartbroken—husband and father of the murdered family
Bashir told our reporter yesterday that the deaths of his wife and six children had ruined his life.
He said the event was like a wound that would never heal.
He said he was at a store when he got the call that told him about the catastrophe.
He said, “When I got back, I saw that they had all been brutally killed with an axe and heavy metal things like a sewing machine.”
“Their bodies were brought to Murtala Muhammad Specialists Hospital, where specialists confirmed that they were dead. I believe that Allah tests His slaves because I am a Muslim. He also said, “May Allah bring us back together in heaven.”
“Allah made us out of nothing, and now He has chosen to take them all.” Bashir cried and added, “May Allah give them paradise.”
Bashir’s family told our reporter that he had been unable to eat or sleep since the event.
The nephew of the late Fatima and two other accused were detained.
The Kano State Police Command said that three people were apprehended after a sting operation that took place between 10:00 p.m. on January 17 and 4:00 a.m. on January 18, 2026.
Among those arrested were Umar Auwalu, 23, from Sabuwar Gandu Quarters; Isyaku Yakubu (Chebe), 40, from Sagagi Quarters; and Yakubu Abdulaziz (Wawo), 21, from Sabon Gida Sharada Quarters.
Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, the Police Public Relations Officer, claimed that the arrests were made as part of an operation ordered by the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
He claimed that the things that were found included bloodstained garments, two cell phones belonging to the dead person, a cutlass, a club, cash, and other weapons that were thought to have been used in the attack.
He claimed that the first inquiry showed that Umar Auwalu, who was said to be the leader of the organization and the deceased woman’s nephew, admitted to being involved in the crime.
He further added that Umar had said that the group has been behind past deadly acts in the state.
Kiyawa said that the investigation into the incident was still going on and that the people who were suspected of it would be taken to court once it was done.
The Command praised the police who took part in the operation and thanked the public for their help and support.
It promised the people of the state that it would do everything it could to keep lives and property safe.
Governor Yusuf, Atiku, Barau, and others speak out against the attack.
Abba Yusuf, the governor of Kano State, said he was very sad about the death and called it savage and unacceptable.
Sunusi Tofa, the governor’s spokesperson, said that the governor denounced the incident and instructed security forces to quickly catch the people who did it.
“The murder of a mother and her innocent children is barbaric, senseless, and a serious attack on our shared humanity,” the governor stated.
He sent his condolences to the family of the deceased, the people of Dorayi Chiranchi, and the people of Kano State. He prayed for the souls of the dead to rest in peace and for their loved ones to have strength.
Yusuf promised that his government would punish the crime and said that justice must be done.
“We will make sure that the people who did this are found, arrested, and brought to justice to the fullest extent of the law,” he said.
The governor told the Kano State Police Command to start looking for the suspects right once and told the Kano State Neighbourhood Corps to step up their patrols and community monitoring, especially in areas that are more likely to be attacked.
He also told people to be calm and work with the police by quickly reporting any suspicious behavior. He promised them that the government would protect lives and property across the state.
Atiku Abubakar, a former vice president, made a comment on his social media accounts yesterday in which he said he was very sorry about the tragedy and questioned the efficacy of security forces.
“I am horrified by the horrible murder of a woman and her six children in Dorayi Chiranchi, Kano. This brutality against innocent Nigerians is wrong and should not happen. Atiku added, “My thoughts and prayers are with the family and community that is grieving.”
He also criticized the security reaction, saying, “Either the so-called marching orders to the security agencies are not being followed through on, or it’s just political talk.”
“Security authorities are responsible for quickly bringing the criminals to justice and taking strong steps to protect all Nigerians from such violence. We need to stop the culture of violence and make sure everyone is safe.
Barau Jibrin, the Deputy Senate President, asked for a quick trial of the suspects through his spokesperson, Ismail Mudashir.
Barau said, “I praise the command for being quick.” This is the first step. The leadership should do a full investigation and make sure that the trial is quick so that these “killers” can be brought to justice.
“They must face the full force of the law. We shall see this through to its logical end. I have been traumatized, horrified, and overwhelmed by the horrible murder of these young kids and their mother over the past few hours. This is cruel and hard to understand.
He remarked, “May Almighty Allah grant the victims Aljannatul Firdaus and give Haruna Bashir, the husband and father of the children, the strength to bear this.”
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