Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the brutal killing of a mother and her six children in Dorayi Chiranchi Quarters of Kano metropolis, while raising critical questions about the effectiveness of security directives issued by authorities across Nigeria.
In a statement released on Sunday, the Waziri Adamawa described the incident as a manifestation of senseless violence that has become increasingly unacceptable in contemporary Nigeria, extending his condolences to the bereaved family and the traumatised community in Kano.
“I am heartbroken by the gruesome killing of a mother and her six children in Dorayi Chiranchi, Kano. This senseless violence against innocent Nigerians is unacceptable. My thoughts and prayers are with the grieving family and community,” Atiku stated.
The former vice-president, who served under President Olusegun Obasanjo between 1999 and 2007 and has remained an influential voice in Nigerian politics, went further to question the disconnect between official security pronouncements and ground realities, suggesting that directives to security agencies may not be translating into actionable results.
“It is either the so-called marching orders to the security agencies are not being actioned or it is merely political talk,” Atiku stated, in what appears to be a direct criticism of the coordination and responsiveness of Nigeria’s security architecture.
The statement comes amid growing public anxiety over the rising wave of violent crimes across various regions of Nigeria, ranging from banditry in the Northwest to kidnapping, cultism, and domestic violence in urban centres. The Kano incident has particularly shocked Nigerians due to the vulnerability of the victims and the apparent brutality of the attack.
Atiku charged security agencies to act with urgency and decisiveness by swiftly apprehending those responsible for the killings and ensuring that justice is served without delay or compromise.
“Security agencies are charged to swiftly bring the perpetrators to justice and for decisive actions to protect every Nigerian from such brutality,” he added.
The former vice-president also called for a comprehensive end to the cycle of violence that has continued to plague Nigerian communities, stressing the urgent need for improved safety measures and the protection of lives as a fundamental responsibility of government.
“We must end the culture of violence and ensure safety for all,” he said.
The Kano State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of three principal suspects in connection with the killing of the housewife and her six children. According to police sources, the arrests followed intelligence-led and coordinated operations carried out between the night of Friday, January 17, and the early hours of Sunday, January 18, 2026.
The killing of the woman and her children in Dorayi Chiranchi has continued to attract widespread condemnation from political leaders, civil society organisations, and human rights groups across Nigeria, with renewed calls for improved security architecture, better intelligence gathering, and increased accountability within the country’s law enforcement agencies.
