Gunmen kidnap Kibiya LG secretary in late-night raid on Kano community

Suspected gunmen have abducted the Secretary of Kibiya Local Government Area of Kano State, Hamza Musa Durba, in a late-night operation that has heightened security concerns in the rural community.

The incident reportedly occurred on Friday night when about six armed men stormed the official’s residence in Dinya town, located in Durba ward of Kibiya Local Government Area.

Security sources said the attackers arrived on motorcycles and were heavily armed but did not fire any shots during the operation.

A security official in the area,  Musa Hussaini Ibrahim, confirmed the abduction, noting that the gunmen executed the operation swiftly and appeared to have specifically targeted the council official.

According to him, the assailants gained access to the residence without attracting significant attention from neighbours before whisking the victim away.

Eyewitnesses said members of the victim’s family were present in the house at the time of the attack. However, the gunmen reportedly left them unharmed and did not abduct anyone else, focusing solely on Durba.

Residents described the incident as disturbing, particularly because the attackers carried out the abduction without firing a single shot.

“It happened very quickly. Nobody even realised what was happening until they had already left with him,” a resident said.

The development has sparked anxiety among residents of the area, many of whom fear that criminal groups may be extending kidnapping operations into rural communities of Kano State.

Kidnapping for ransom has become increasingly common in several parts of northern Nigeria, although Kano has historically recorded fewer incidents compared to neighbouring states affected by banditry.

Following the abduction, security agencies were alerted and have launched a coordinated search operation to rescue the victim and apprehend those responsible.

Sources within the local security network said efforts are ongoing to trace the attackers and gather intelligence that could lead to their arrest.

As of the time of filing this report, authorities had yet to issue an official statement detailing the circumstances surrounding the abduction or the possible motives behind the attack.

However, preliminary indications suggest the incident may be linked to the growing trend of kidnapping for ransom in parts of the region.

The abduction has renewed calls for improved security measures across rural communities in Kano State, particularly in areas where residents fear criminals may exploit limited security presence.