Armed groups raided Sundu and Biresawa villages in Kano State’s Tsanyawa LGA overnight, abducting several women and girls and raising fresh fears that violence is shifting deeper into border communities despite recent peace efforts in the region.

Late on Monday night, attackers stormed the two villages, both located along the volatile Katsina–Kano border, a corridor that has increasingly served as a transit and operational route for armed groups operating across the Northwest. Witnesses described the assault as swift and coordinated, leaving residents scrambling for safety as gunmen seized multiple women and girls before retreating toward forested escape routes.

The incident was first flagged by prominent security analyst Bakatsine, who posted early details on X on Tuesday. He warned that the latest abductions suggest not a reduction in attacks, but a geographic displacement of violence pushed outward from Katsina into nearby communities in Kano.

“Yesterday night, armed bandits raided the Sundu and Biresawa villages of Tsanyawa LGA in Kano State, abducting several women and girls. The communities lie along the Katsina–Kano border, a corridor frequently exploited by armed groups,” he wrote, noting that recent peace arrangements in Katsina have not translated into reduced insecurity for neighboring states.

The development comes weeks after a peace agreement involving Ingawa, Kankia and Kusada LGAs in Katsina State, where local leaders and security actors sought to negotiate a temporary reduction in attacks. However, analysts now question whether the deal has simply pushed violent groups into new, less protected border communities.

Residents of Sundu and Biresawa say the attacks occurred with little warning, and that the abductors moved quickly, targeting homes before disappearing into the night. The exact number of victims remains unconfirmed, but locals report that all of the abductees were women and girls.

As of Tuesday afternoon, security agencies had not issued a formal statement. Local vigilante groups and community leaders say tracking operations have begun, though the terrain and overlap with the Katsina border forest belt complicate rescue efforts.

A growing pattern across the Northwest

The attack in Tsanyawa follows a disturbing trend of violence moving across state lines, exploiting gaps between security jurisdictions. In the past week alone, multiple communities in Zamfara, Niger, Kebbi and Kwara have reported killings or abductions, underscoring the broader fragility facing the region.

Analysts warn that unless security coordination improves across state borders, peace deals in one location may inadvertently push criminal networks into adjacent areas, leaving previously calm communities vulnerable.

What this means for Kano

Kano, traditionally one of the safer northern states, is now experiencing the spillover effect of the wider Northwest crisis. Border LGAs such as Tsanyawa, Doguwa and Tudun Wada have become increasingly exposed as attackers take advantage of porous boundaries and understaffed rural security posts.

Local leaders describe the situation as urgent, with fears mounting that the attackers may return unless rapid intervention and community protection strategies are deployed.

The broader implications

The abductions in Sundu and Biresawa highlight the shifting geography of insecurity in Northern Nigeria. As armed groups feel pressure in one location, they migrate into weaker zones, creating a cycle that leaves rural families living at the mercy of moving threats.

For residents, the fear is simple and immediate: if peace agreements only push violence next door, then no community is truly safe.