Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A former Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Bebeji Local Government Area of Kano State, Alhaji Sabo Gwarmai, narrowly escaped abduction on Wednesday night after heavily armed bandits stormed his residence in what local sources described as a coordinated attack aimed at seizing the prominent politician. According to reports reaching journalists on Thursday, the assailants, armed with sophisticated weapons, invaded Gwarmai's home, overpowered his security, and succeeded in dragging him out of the house. However, before the kidnappers could escape with their captive, residents of the community mobilised swiftly and confronted the attackers in a fierce clash, forcing them to abandon their victim and flee into the darkness.
Gwarmai, who served as the APC chairman in Bebeji LGA, is said to have survived the attack unharmed. The incident has once again highlighted the growing threat of banditry in Kano State, a region historically less affected by the kind of large-scale abduction-for-ransom operations that have ravaged neighbouring states like Katsina, Zamfara, and Kaduna. However, security analysts have warned that bandit groups displaced by military operations in the North-West are expanding their footprint into new territories, including parts of Kano State, raising fresh concerns about the geographic spread of rural insecurity .
The attack on Gwarmai's residence is the latest in a series of incidents targeting political figures in the state. Just over a month ago, in June 2026, the former APC chairman of Koko/Besse Local Government Area in neighbouring Kebbi State, Alhaji Muhammadu Mai Barga Besse, died in captivity after being abducted by bandits . His death, which followed a video showing him being tortured and humiliated in a forest, underscored the brutal reality of bandit operations in the region . In a separate incident, the wife and son of the sitting APC chairman of Yauri LGA in Kebbi were also abducted from their home on the same day .
The dramatic rescue of Gwarmai by his community raises urgent questions about the effectiveness of state security apparatus in protecting citizens. While the residents of Bebeji demonstrated remarkable courage and solidarity, their success in repelling the attackers underscores a troubling reality: communities across the North-West are increasingly being forced to rely on self-defence to survive. This pattern has been observed in other parts of the region, where vigilante groups and local hunters have stepped in to fill the void left by overwhelmed or absent security forces.
The incident also comes amid reports that bandit groups displaced by recent military operations in the North-West are expanding their footprint into new territories, including parts of Kano State and potentially the country's southwest corridor . Security experts have warned that the Rogo–Karaye boundary may emerge as a new hotspot for abductions as bandits use the Falgore forest as a base to target Kano's farming communities . The attack on Gwarmai's residence appears to be a clear manifestation of this trend, signalling that no area is safe from the reach of these criminal networks.
The Kano State Police Command has yet to issue an official statement on the incident, and it remains unclear whether any arrests have been made. As of the time of filing this report, the police had not confirmed the attack or provided details on any ongoing investigations. The absence of a prompt security response to what was clearly a well-coordinated attack raises further questions about the capacity of law enforcement to protect vulnerable communities.
As residents of Bebeji and surrounding areas continue to live under the shadow of banditry, the question remains: how long can communities continue to rely on self-defence before stronger security interventions become unavoidable? The courage displayed by the people of Bebeji in rescuing their former chairman is commendable, but it is also a damning indictment of the state's failure to provide adequate protection for its citizens. Until the government takes decisive action to address the root causes of banditry and restore public confidence in the security apparatus, communities across the North-West will continue to bear the burden of defending themselves against a threat that shows no signs of abating.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments