The Kano State Police Command has arrested a 23-year-old man identified as a nephew of a slain housewife, accusing him of masterminding the killing of the woman and her six children in Kano.

The victims were discovered dead on January 17, 2026, at their home in Dorayi Chiranchi Quarters. Police said the arrests followed an intelligence-led operation ordered by the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, which enabled officers to track down the suspects within 24 hours of the incident.

According to the command, the principal suspect, Umar Auwalu of Sabuwar Gandu Quarters, was apprehended during a coordinated overnight operation carried out between late Saturday and early Sunday. Two other suspects were also arrested in connection with the case: Isyaku Yakubu, 40, also known as “Chebe,” from Sagagi Quarters, and Yakubu Abdulaziz, 21, popularly called “Wawo,” from Sabon Gida Sharada Quarters.

Police authorities described Auwalu as a “family insider,” noting that investigations revealed he was closely related to the deceased woman. The Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, said the suspect made confessional statements linking himself and his associates to the crime.

Kiyawa also disclosed that during interrogation, Auwalu admitted involvement in other violent crimes, including the killing of two women in Tudun Yola Quarters, Kano, in a separate case still under investigation.

Items recovered during the operation include blood-stained clothing, mobile phones belonging to the victims, weapons allegedly used in the attack, and cash said to have been taken from the household.

The Kano State Police Command commended its operatives for the swift response and thanked members of the public for providing intelligence that aided the arrests. The command assured residents that investigations are ongoing to uncover the full extent of the suspects’ activities and identify any additional accomplices, while reaffirming its commitment to bringing all those responsible to justice.