“This Country is a Crime Scene:” Rinu Reacts to Kano Mother, Six Children Killings

Summary: Communications and Advocacy Expert Rinu Oduala has condemned the killing of a mother and her six children in Dorayi Chiranchi, Kano State, describing it as a chilling reflection of Nigeria’s worsening security crisis. The Kano State Police have since arrested three suspects in connection with the attack and say investigations are ongoing.

Communications and Advocacy Expert Rinu Oduala has reacted to the killing of a woman and her six children in Dorayi Chiranchi, Kano State, describing the incident as a grim reflection of Nigeria’s worsening security crisis.

In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter) on January 17, 2026, Rinu wrote:

“A woman and her six children were murdered in their home in Dorayi Chiranchi, Kano. All of them, killed. This country is a crime scene. What kind of sick minds are we harbouring exactly?”

The attack, which occurred on January 17, 2026, shocked residents of the usually close-knit Dorayi community. The victims were identified as 35-year-old Fatima Abubakar and her six children: Maimuna (17), Aisha (16), Bashir (13), Abubakar (10), Faruk (7), and Abdulsalam, a one-year-old infant. The assailants reportedly entered the home around 12:10 p.m., while the children’s father, Haruna Bashir, was away at the market.

The Kano State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of three suspects in connection with the killings. In a statement issued on January 18, 2026, the police spokesperson, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, identified the suspects as Umar Auwalu, 23, of Sabuwar Gandu Quarters; Isyaku Yakubu, also known as Chebe, 40, of Sagagi Quarters; and Yakubu Abdulaziz, also known as Wawo, 21, of Sabon Gida Sharada Quarters.

According to the police, preliminary investigations revealed that Umar Auwalu, a nephew of the deceased woman, was the alleged mastermind behind the attack. He reportedly confessed to leading the group responsible for the killings and admitted involvement in other violent crimes in Kano, including the killing of two housewives in Tudun Yola Quarters in November 2025.

Police also disclosed that items recovered during the investigation included four blood-stained clothes, two mobile phones belonging to the victims, a cutlass, a club locally known as a gora, and an undisclosed amount of cash, all believed to be linked to the crime.