Gunmen kill APC ward chairman, abduct wife, children

Gunmen have killed the All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman of Rantan Ward in Bebeji Local Government Area of Kano State, Alhaji Buba Garba, during a night attack that also left his wife and two others abducted.

The attackers stormed Rantan village around 11pm on Sunday, killing Garba and another resident, Sulaiman Aliko, who was shot after reportedly rushing out to assist during the attack.

Residents said the assailants arrived on motorcycles and launched what appeared to be a targeted operation.

Bashir Alhaji Adamu, the Chiroman Rantan and son of the village head, said the gunmen also attempted to abduct a local businessman, Alhaji Sa’adu, but were unsuccessful.

“They beat him and injured him, but they abducted his two children. They also abducted the wife of the APC chairman they killed,” he said.

According to residents, Aliko was shot twice — in the leg and chest — after responding to the attack.

The incident has heightened security concerns in the area, coming days after another attack in nearby Chiromawa, Garun Malam Local Government Area, where gunmen reportedly killed three people and abducted Sarkin Noman Kano.

Confirming the Kano attack, the state Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, said security agencies had launched operations to track the attackers.

“The Rantan issue happened last night and, as earlier reported, three people died, and some were in the hospital. We are still on the operation, and our anti-kidnapping personnel are also there,” Bakori said.

He added that security commanders had begun strategising on ways to prevent further attacks from neighbouring areas.

The police commissioner assured residents that security agencies were working together to apprehend the perpetrators and restore calm to affected communities.