The Kano State Police Command has rescued the Sarkin Noman Kano, Alhaji Yusif Nadabo, after suspected bandits abducted the 86-year-old traditional leader during an attack on Garun Mallam Town in Garun Mallam Local Government Area of the state.
Nadabo was rescued unhurt after police operatives, supported by community members, mounted a pursuit of the attackers who reportedly fled into the surrounding area following the abduction.
The incident occurred at about 11:30pm on Saturday, August 29, 2026, when the suspected bandits invaded the town and began shooting sporadically into the air, according to the Kano State Police Command.
Three residents were also shot and injured during the attack.
They were identified by the police as Yusif Nasiru, 20; Salisu Garba, 20; and Ibrahim Hassan, 20.
The command’s spokesman, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Sunday, saying the attackers stormed Garun Mallam Town late at night before abducting the traditional leader.
“The command received a distress report at about 2330hrs that some miscreants suspected to be bandits had stormed Garun Mallam Town and started shooting sporadically in the air. In the process, the hoodlums abducted Alhaji Yusif Nadabo, the Sarkin Noman Kano,” Kiyawa said.
The police spokesman said the attackers also shot and injured three residents during the operation.
“The hoodlums abducted Alhaji Yusif Nadabo, the Sarkin Noman Kano, and in the course of the attack, shot and injured three residents of Garun Mallam Town,” he said.
According to Kiyawa, the distress report prompted the immediate mobilisation of tactical and patrol teams from the command, with additional reinforcement from neighbouring police divisions.
The security operatives subsequently moved into the area and, working with members of the community, began pursuing the attackers.
Kiyawa said the joint effort forced the suspected bandits to abandon the traditional leader and flee from the area.
“The Police, in collaboration with members of the community, gave the hoodlums a hot chase. Consequently, the bandits abandoned the kidnapped victim and fled the scene,” he said.
The police said Nadabo was found and rescued without injuries.
The three residents who sustained gunshot wounds were also evacuated for medical treatment alongside the traditional leader.
“Alhaji Yusif Nadabo was rescued unhurt,” Kiyawa said, adding that the injured victims were taken to the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital for treatment.
The successful rescue came less than 24 hours after the suspected bandits reportedly invaded the town, throwing residents into panic and raising concerns over the security of communities in the area.
Nadabo, who is also the owner of Chiromawa Petroleum Station, holds the traditional title of Sarkin Noman Kano, a position associated with the leadership and representation of farmers in Kano State.
His abduction had therefore generated concern among residents and members of farming communities who regarded the elderly traditional leader as an important community figure.
The police did not disclose whether any of the suspected attackers were arrested during or after the operation.
However, the command said a manhunt had been launched for the fleeing perpetrators while additional patrols had been deployed around Garun Mallam Town.
Kiyawa said the confidence-building patrols were intended to prevent another security breach and reassure residents following the attack.
“The command has emplaced confidence-building patrols in and around Garun Mallam Town to forestall any further breach of peace, while a manhunt has been launched to arrest the fleeing perpetrators,” he said.
The police spokesman said the operation demonstrated the importance of rapid response and cooperation between security agencies and communities in confronting criminal activities.
He also commended police personnel who responded to the distress call and pursued the attackers.
The Commissioner of Police also praised residents, vigilante members and members of the Neighbourhood Watch Corps for their support during the rescue operation.
According to Kiyawa, the vigilance and cooperation of the community security groups contributed significantly to the successful recovery of the abducted traditional leader.
The police urged residents not to panic following the attack, assuring them that security personnel had been deployed to protect lives and property.
Kiyawa appealed to members of the public to provide credible information that could help security agencies identify and arrest the suspects who escaped after abandoning Nadabo.
“The CP further urges residents to remain calm and continue to provide credible information that will aid in the arrest of the culprits,” he said.
The command said investigation into the incident was ongoing and that further developments would be made public.
The attack has again highlighted security concerns in rural and semi-urban communities across Kano State, particularly areas where residents can become vulnerable to kidnapping and other criminal activities during the night.
The incident also underscores the importance of maintaining effective communication between residents and security agencies, as the distress call reportedly triggered the rapid deployment of police teams that eventually led to the rescue of the traditional leader.
For residents of Garun Mallam, the immediate priority is expected to remain the prevention of another attack and the arrest of the perpetrators.
The police deployment around the town is expected to provide reassurance while investigators work to establish the identities of those behind the operation and determine whether they are connected to other criminal activities in the area.
Security agencies are also expected to intensify surveillance along routes leading into and out of Garun Mallam to prevent the fleeing suspects from returning to the community or moving into neighbouring areas.
The rescue of Nadabo without injuries has provided relief to his family, traditional institutions and members of the farming community who were concerned about his safety following the abduction.
However, the shooting of three residents demonstrates the potentially serious consequences of the attack and the need for authorities to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice.
The police said the three injured victims were receiving medical attention at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital.
No further information was immediately provided on their condition.
The command reiterated that it remained committed to protecting residents across the state and responding promptly to threats against communities.
It also called for continued cooperation between residents, community leaders, vigilantes and formal security agencies in preventing criminal activities.
West Trybe reports that the rescue of the 86-year-old Sarkin Noman Kano came after suspected bandits invaded Garun Mallam Town, abducted the traditional leader and shot three residents. The swift police response, supported by community members, forced the attackers to abandon Nadabo and flee, while security operatives have launched a manhunt and intensified patrols in the area.
