The Kano State Police Command has arrested three suspects over the brutal murder of a housewife and her six children in Dorayi Chiranchi quarters, Kano Municipal Local Government Area, following a directive from the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
The arrests were made during an intelligence-led sting operation conducted between 10:00pm on Saturday and 4:00am on Sunday and overseen by the Kano State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Bakori. Police say the operation marked a major breakthrough in the investigation of the shocking killings, which sparked widespread outrage and grief across the state.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the police spokesperson in Kano, Abdullahi Kiyawa, identified the suspects as Umar Auwalu, 23; Isyaku Yakubu, also known as Chebe, 40; and Yakubu Abdulaziz, also known as Wawo, 21. According to the police, preliminary investigations revealed that Auwalu, who is a nephew of the deceased woman, was the mastermind behind the attack.
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Kiyawa said Auwalu confessed to leading the group that invaded the family home and killed the woman and her six children using dangerous weapons. He added that the suspect also admitted involvement in other violent crimes, including the murder and burning of two housewives in Tudun Yola Quarters, Kano, in an earlier incident.
“The suspects were arrested based on credible intelligence and painstaking investigations,” Kiyawa said. “During interrogation, the principal suspect confessed to the crime and provided useful information that linked the group to other killings within the Kano metropolis.”
Police said several items were recovered from the suspects during the operation. These include four blood-stained clothes believed to have been worn during the attack, two mobile phones belonging to the victims, a cutlass, a club locally known as a gora, an undisclosed amount of cash, and other dangerous weapons.
The murder of the woman and her children had earlier thrown Dorayi Chiranchi community into panic, with residents describing the killings as one of the most horrific crimes in recent years. The victims’ bodies were discovered in their residence, prompting neighbours to raise the alarm and alert security agencies.
Kiyawa said the swift arrests were made possible by the cooperation of members of the public, who provided timely information to the police. He commended officers and men of the command for what he described as their professionalism, dedication, and rapid response to the incident.
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“The Kano State Police Command appreciates the support and cooperation of the public, which played a critical role in this success,” the spokesperson said. “We assure residents that the command remains committed to ensuring justice for the victims and maintaining peace and security across the state.”
He added that investigations are ongoing to uncover the full extent of the suspects’ activities and determine whether more accomplices were involved. The suspects are expected to be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
The police urged residents to remain calm and continue to support security agencies with credible information, assuring that those responsible for violent crimes in the state will be brought to justice.
