Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Henry Owen
Kano, Nigeria — Gunmen suspected to be bandits launched a violent attack on Tiga town in the Bebeji Local Government Area of Kano State late Monday night, 26 January 2026, killing a well‑known community businessman and looting his property before fleeing, residents and local sources reported on Tuesday. The incident has intensified concerns over rising insecurity in rural and semi‑urban communities across northwest Nigeria amid persistent armed violence.
According to accounts circulating on social media and confirmed by eyewitnesses, the assailants entered Tiga town under the cover of darkness and shot Alhaji Habibu Mai Shago, a respected trader, inside his shop. After killing him, the gunmen carted away valuables and merchandise, leaving the community in shock.
Residents told journalists that the attack unfolded without warning, with gunfire ringing through the town before dawn. Community leaders described Alhaji Mai Shago as a peaceful, hardworking businessman whose death is a significant loss to Tiga’s commercial and social life. They said his killing has ignited widespread fear among traders, farmers and families who use the town’s markets and roads daily.
The violence in Tiga town reflects a broader pattern of banditry affecting parts of Kano State and the northwestern region, where armed groups frequently carry out raids on villages, abduct civilians and disrupt local economies. Although official confirmation from the Kano State Police Command has not yet been issued, security commentators and residents have linked the attack to criminal networks that exploit limited security presence in rural areas.
Locals fear that the incident may signal an expansion of criminal activity into areas previously considered comparatively stable. Traders in Tiga and neighbouring communities expressed anxiety about travelling after dark, pointing to a series of recent kidnappings, ambushes and killings that have increasingly targeted business owners, farmers and commuters across the state.
Last year, bandit attacks in Kano and surrounding states resulted in multiple deaths and abductions, prompting calls for greater security reinforcement from residents and civil society groups. Reports of gunmen terrorising villages, including abductions of women and attacks on civilians in other parts of the state, have been documented in recent months.
The attack on Alhaji Mai Shago has renewed appeals from community leaders for the deployment of additional security personnel to Bebeji and other vulnerable local government areas. They have urged the Kano State Government and security agencies to intervene swiftly to prevent further loss of life and protect local commerce, which is integral to the region’s socio‑economic stability.
Analysts note that the proliferation of armed groups in northwest Nigeria poses complex challenges for law enforcement. Rural communities often lack sufficient security infrastructure, enabling bandits to strike with minimal immediate resistance. Incidents like the Tiga attack underscore the urgency of coordinated efforts to strengthen patrols, gather better intelligence and engage local stakeholders in conflict prevention strategies.
As investigations continue, residents remain on edge, calling for transparent updates from authorities and a robust response to curb the tide of violence that has imperilled lives and livelihoods in Tiga and beyond.
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