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In Chiranchi, Dorayi area of Kano, noon became darkness. It was on Saturday, 17 January that the blood chilling incident unfurled.

The heinous killing of a mother and her six children shattered the Dorayi community known for its close-knit bonds, warm and peaceful routines.

Kano state is stiff stunned, as hearts are heavy with questions hanging.

Malam Bala Abubakar, a neighbour had pulled off his clothing to bathe when frantic shouts ripped the air.

He heard screams for help, a cry of “Umar, please don’t kill me.” Abubakar said he rushed out, towel still on, and joined other neighbours who had already poured into the narrow lane.

“Some labourers painting a new building adjacent to the affected home also heard the earsplitting cries and rushed out. They alerted people that “something wrong is going on in that house.” The Ward head Ahmad Ya’u Yahaya (Gidan Kwari) also rushed to the scene.

“Together, we rallied to render help,” another eyewitness said. But it was too late. The killers had accomplished their mission. What they saw was a scene of horror. The canvass of blood was wide.

Thirty-five year-old mother, Fatima Abubakar, her first and second daughters Maimuna, 17, and Aisha, 16, alongside four sons: Bashir, 13, Abubakar, 10, Faruk, 7, and Abdulsalam -a 1 year-old baby were all massacred in cold blood.

The killers invaded at 12:10 pm when the husband Haruna Bashir had gone to the market, witnesses said.

“The attackers used a sewing machine head to smash and rip open the skulls of the victims. It was an unbelievably gory sight,” Abubakar told The Nation on Monday.

Next, the neighbours swarmed the slaughter house, held the doors, and called the police.

Officers, prompted by Police Commissioner Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, arrived swiftly, combing the premises in a sting operation. One of the suspects hidden in a toilet was seized for what would later be a lead to the rest.

The dead were taken to the hospital, but none was saved.

Soon, a funeral was held, according to Islamic rites, during which some of the perpetrators mingled with the mourners. They disguised as sympathisers at the funeral, unaware that the watchful eyes of detectives were tracking every of their moves. They were also arrested.

Police spokesman Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa gave the names of the three killer-suspects as Umar Auwalu, 23, Isyaku Yakubu, 40, and Yakubu Abdulaziz, 21, all from Kano.

One of them, Umar Auwalu, is a nephew to the slain mother who had begged him to spare her before he sniffed life out of her.

The arrest of the killers, now in police custody, is a slight measure of relief to Kano people who spoke to The Nation on Monday, many calling on Governor Abba Yusuf to sign their death warrant if sentenced by the court.

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Police officers attached to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command have arrested six notorious armed robbery suspects.

The suspects are linked to a series of violent crimes, particularly around nightclubs and recreational centres within the nation’s capital.

The robbery suspects are; Suleiman Magaji (25), Abdullahi Abubakar (20), Abubakar Shitu (25), Sani Ibrahim (17), Rabiu Dahiru (19) and Ahmen Abdullahi (26).

FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, who disclosed this on Sunday said; “On Friday, 17th January 2026, at about 5:45 pm., acting on credible intelligence, the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, CP Miller Dantawaye, directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to ensure the immediate arrest of the criminal gang.

“Consequently, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, SCID, DCP Aliyu Abubakar, deployed a discreet intelligence-led operation led by ACP Victor Godfrey, the Commander, Scorpion Squad.

“The team successfully tracked and raided the gang’s hideout at Dakwa, Dei-Dei area of the FCT, where the suspects were apprehended while planning a fresh attack.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects are responsible for several armed robbery incidents within the FCT, including a recent robbery at Crystal Lounge, Wuse II, where a hotel guest was dispossessed of gold jewellery valued at approximately Fifteen Million Naira (₦15,000,000).

“The stolen items were reportedly sold by the suspects for the sum of One Million Two Hundred Thousand Naira (₦1.2 million).

“During the operation, the following exhibits were recovered: One black toy gun, Local charms, Long and short knives and forty-two (42) bags of dried leaves suspected to be cannabis-sativa

“The suspects and exhibits are currently in Police custody and will be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations.

“The Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, CP Miller Dantawaye, commended the officers for their professionalism and gallantry.

“He also appreciated members of the public for the timely and useful information that led to the successful arrest of the suspects.

“The CP further urged residents to remain vigilant, security-conscious, and to continue supporting Police operations by promptly reporting suspicious persons or activities through the Command’s emergency lines:

08032003913 and 07057337653.

“Together, we will continue to rid the Federal Capital Territory of criminal elements.”

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Troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) have once again demonstrated resilience, professionalism and superior combat capability by decisively foiling coordinated terrorist attacks across parts of Adamawa and Borno States, while inflicting heavy losses on fleeing terrorists during follow-up operations.

According to a statement signed the Acting Media Information Officer, Joint Task Force (North East) Operation Hadin Kai, Lieutenant  SA Atokolo.

In the early hours of 16 January 2026, terrorists attempted to overrun a patrol base at Sabon Gari in Madagali LGA of Adamawa State under Sector 4 OPHK. Alert troops swiftly engaged the attackers, supported by reinforcements from Gulak and the Battalion Quick Reaction Force. The terrorists were successfully repelled without any casualties to our troops and equipment, forcing them to abandon the attack. The general area was subsequently cleared and scanned for Improvised Explosive Devices and booby traps to ensure civilian and troop safety.

In a related development on the same day, terrorists launched a large-scale, multi-directional attack on Forward Operating Base (FOB) Azir in Borno State. The attackers initially attempted to breach part of the defensive perimeter but were met with overwhelming and sustained firepower from gallant troops with support from the Air Component and other Nigerian Army aerial platforms. After a prolonged firefight lasting over an hour, the terrorists were decisively overpowered and forced to withdraw.

During the engagement, terrorists’ Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) fire affected Troop Carrying Vehicles and the CCTV control room which were partially gutted by fire. Despite this, troops maintained firm control of the situation. Several terrorist weapons and ammunition, including a 60mm mortar tube, mortar bombs, locally fabricated explosives, heavy machine gun rounds and hundreds of rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, were recovered from the terrorists.

Crucially, this engagement did not end at the FOB. Persistent Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms immediately tracked the fleeing terrorists, enabling follow-up operations along identified withdrawal routes by the Air Component of OPHK. The precision strikes by the Nigerian Airforce platforms resulted in the neutralisation of additional scores of the terrorists, dealing a severe blow to the group’s fighting strength and morale. Evidence from the exploitation confirmed that the terrorists suffered heavy casualties.

The sacrifices of personnel underscores the overall commitment of troops in securing lives and the troops of OPHK remain resolute and unwavering in their mandate to deny terrorists freedom of action, dismantle their networks and protect the integrity of the North East region. Operations continue until all threats are eliminated.