A violent incident in Dorayi Chiranchi Quarters of Kano State left a housewife and her six children dead on Saturday, January 17, 2026, prompting an official investigation by the Kano State Police Command into the circumstances surrounding the attack. The victims were identified as Fatima Abubakar (35) and her six children.
According to a police statement, the Kano State Police Command received a distress call at approximately 12:10 p.m. reporting that unknown assailants had forcefully entered the residence of Haruna Bashir in Dorayi Chiranchi Quarters.
Upon arrival, officers found that the victims had sustained fatal injuries inflicted with dangerous weapons, and they were subsequently pronounced dead at Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital, Kano.
The incident has occurred amid ongoing concerns about security challenges in parts of northern Nigeria, where isolated violent attacks have periodically claimed civilian lives.
Community members in Dorayi Chiranchi expressed shock at the scale of the violence against a single family. Local authorities and residents have called for swift action to restore a sense of safety within the community.
The Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, said that the Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, mobilised a team led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, DCP Lawal Isah Mani, to the scene.
A dedicated investigative team led by Assistant Commissioner of Police Wada Jarma, head of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), has been tasked with identifying and apprehending those responsible.
Police have not yet disclosed any suspects or motives for the attack. The command has extended condolences to the bereaved family and the people of Dorayi Chiranchi and Kano State, emphasising that efforts are underway to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Security analysts note that while isolated violent acts occur across Nigeria for varied reasons, thorough investigations and transparent communication by law enforcement are essential to prevent further escalation of fear in affected communities.
This incident underscores ongoing security concerns within the Kano metropolis, where residents have urged increased patrolling and community engagement by security agencies. Civil society groups have called for improved intelligence gathering and quicker response mechanisms to protect vulnerable populations.
The Kano State Police Command continues its comprehensive investigation into the killings. Authorities have appealed to members of the public with any information to come forward to support the inquiry and assist in ensuring that those behind the attack face justice.
