Residents of Zurin Mahuta village, located within the Lakwaya community of Gwarzo Local Government Area in Kano State, were thrown into fear and confusion on Sunday night following a violent incursion by armed bandits who stormed the area and carried out a kidnapping operation.

A local source, who requested anonymity, disclosed that the attackers arrived in the village late in the evening and forcefully seized several residents. According to the source, four people were initially abducted during the raid, comprising two men and two women. However, the two women reportedly managed to escape from their captors amid the chaos that followed the attack.

The bandits were said to have also made away with a significant number of cattle during the operation. Fortunately, security operatives later intercepted the stolen livestock at Dan Tsare village, where the animals were recovered, preventing further losses to the affected community.

Providing further details, the source explained that residents had noticed suspicious movements in the area from about 8 p.m. and promptly alerted security agencies about the presence of the attackers. Despite the early warning, the bandits succeeded in abducting the victims before help could arrive.

The source added that only two people remain in captivity: the Imam of the village’s Juma’at mosque and a local businessman. He noted that there had been active communication with the businessman before the attack, but repeated phone calls later went unanswered, raising alarm. It was eventually confirmed that both men had been taken by the bandits.

When contacted for official confirmation, the spokesperson of the Kano State Police Command, Abdullahi Haruna, said he would verify the incident and respond accordingly, but no further details were provided at the time of filing this report.