Yankamaye village in Tsanyawa Local Government Area of Kano State was plunged into panic late Saturday night, specifically November 29, 2025, when armed bandits launched a deadly assault. During the attack, an elderly woman was killed, and three residents were abducted, as many community members were asleep when the armed men stormed the area.

According to sources, the gunmen arrived on motorcycles, which they discreetly parked at the outskirts of the village before proceeding on foot to avoid early detection. They raided houses, and tragically, an old woman was shot dead after pleading with the bandits to spare her son from abduction. The son, identified as Aminu Mahd Ala, was then taken. Additionally, two women were abducted from another house, one of whom was the sister-in-law of the ward councillor. Nuradeen Rabiu highlighted that Aminu Mahd Ala had previously spoken out against the politicization of security challenges in Kano State just hours before his abduction.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, confirmed the tragic incident, stating that police operatives had been immediately deployed to track down the attackers. Kiyawa affirmed the police's commitment to rescue the kidnapped victims and restore calm to the affected area. As of the time of reporting, security operatives were said to be actively combing nearby forests in an intense effort to locate the victims and apprehend the assailants.

Yankamaye, a small farming community, has become a recent target for bandits, which is attributed to their flight from military operations and controversial peace deals in nearby North-West States. The village, situated approximately 5km from Rimaye town in Katsina State, has faced frequent attacks, particularly after neighboring Katsina communities reportedly signed "peace accords" with these bandit groups. Other nearby communities such as Sundu and Buresawa are also experiencing similar insecurity, with Biresawa village reporting at least eight abductions during a late-night raid on a Monday.

In response to rising security threats, Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf, speaking at a recent Executive Council Meeting at Government House Kano, reiterated his administration’s firm resolve to confront the issue. He specifically highlighted recent incursions by bandits, kidnappers, and cattle rustlers into northern local government areas, listing Kunchi, Tsanyawa, Gwarzo, Kabo, Sumaila, Shanono, Tudun Wada, Doguwa, and Rogo as affected areas. The governor emphasized that the state is collaborating closely with all security agencies to neutralize emerging threats, restore stability, and reassure residents amidst heightened concerns. He also expressed support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration of a national emergency on security, deeming it "bold, timely and necessary" given the widespread insecurity in parts of the North, and assured citizens that despite isolated challenges, the government remains fully alert and determined to neutralize all threats to peace and order.