In light of the recent attack in Kano State, where suspected bandits killed at least ten people and abducted several villagers from border communities in Shanono and Tsanyanwa Local Government Areas, voices calling for heightened international and governmental response are growing louder.
According to witnesses, the assailants—believed to originate from neighbouring Katsina State—stormed villages such as Yanganau in Tsanyanwa LGA and Faruruwa ward in Shanono LGA. The raids, conducted late at night, left three confirmed dead and multiple kidnappings reported. The victims included both men and women, and the fear in the communities is audible: as one resident said, “We thought the presence of soldiers would solve it, but it’s like we are inviting them more.
This incident is far from isolated. The northwest of Nigeria has seen a surge in violence—often labelled loosely as “bandit attacks”—that target rural and border communities, many of which are Christian-majority or mixed religious populations. Communities frequently cite concerns of inadequate security coverage and repeated incursions.
The sudden rise in violence has intersected with broader international concerns about religious persecution in Nigeria. In recent months, the U.S. has designated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) for its record on religious freedom, with a focus on violence against Christian communities. Therefore, each attack such as the one in Kano reinforces the global spotlight on Nigeria’s capacity to protect its citizens — including its Christian minorities.
While not every attack is explicitly religious in nature — many stem from issues like cattle theft, herder-farmer conflict, and land insecurity — numerous observers and local advocacy groups say these incidents disproportionately harm Christian-farmed communities in the Middle Belt and North West, compounding fears of targeted violence. The recent Kano attack sits within this larger pattern.
The Call for More Information and Action
Given this context, there are several reasons why we need deeper reporting, more data, and broader international attention:
- Transparency in victim profiling: Knowing whether victims are targeted because of faith, ethnicity or location helps tailor credible protective responses.
- Tracking faith dimension: While “banditry” labels dominate, faith-based narratives are often embedded. Attacks on Christian communities may warrant categorisation as religious-freedom violations.
- Government accountability: The repeated nature of attacks and slow security response raise questions about state capacity and political will.
- International leverage: With the U.S. CPC designation and growing NGO engagement, accurate data strengthens the case for global advocacy and possible sanctions.
- Community resilience: Documenting these incidents thoroughly empowers local communities, supports humanitarian aid allocation and helps rebuild trust.