Gunmen have killed the All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman of Rantan Ward in Bebeji Local Government Area of Kano State, Alhaji Buba Garba, during a night attack in which his wife and two children were abducted.
The attackers reportedly stormed Rantan village at about 11pm on Sunday on motorcycles and opened an assault that residents described as targeted.
Garba was killed during the attack. Another resident, Sulaiman Aliko, was also shot dead after reportedly rushing out to help.
Residents said the gunmen also attempted to abduct a local businessman, Alhaji Sa’adu, but were unable to take him away. However, his two children were abducted.
Bashir Alhaji Adamu, the Chiroman Rantan and son of the village head, said Sa’adu was beaten and injured during the attack.
“They beat him and injured him, but they abducted his two children. They also abducted the wife of the APC chairman they killed,” he said.
According to residents, Aliko was shot twice, sustaining injuries to his leg and chest, after responding to the attack.
The incident has raised fresh security concerns in the area, coming days after an attack in nearby Chiromawa, Garun Malam Local Government Area, where three people were reportedly killed and the Sarkin Noman Kano was abducted.
Confirming the Rantan attack, Kano State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, said security agencies had launched an operation to locate the attackers and rescue those abducted.
“The Rantan issue happened last night and, as earlier reported, three people died, and some were in the hospital. We are still on the operation, and our anti-kidnapping personnel are also there,” Bakori said.
The commissioner said security commanders were also reviewing measures to prevent further attacks from neighbouring communities.
He assured residents that security agencies were coordinating efforts to apprehend those responsible and restore security in the affected communities.
