Residents of Sheka and Maidile communities in Kumbotso Local Government Area of Kano State spent Monday night in terror as groups of teenagers, allegedly posing as rival gangs, engaged in violent clashes that resulted in looting and robbery.

According to eyewitness accounts, the youths, armed with machetes and using security-like flashlights, confronted each other in what appeared to be organized gang warfare. A video circulating on social media captured the chaotic scene, showing young men rushing toward one another while shouting threats, causing residents to flee the area for safety.

A resident who spoke to reporters disputed the narrative of genuine rival gang conflicts, suggesting instead that the violence was a coordinated scheme to facilitate robbery. "This is not thuggery, this is a means for them to rob people. These youths plan everything, how to go about the fight and make it look like a rival gang fight," the resident explained.

The perpetrators, reportedly between the ages of 14 and 22, have been accused of breaking into shops, stealing phones, and looting businesses during the manufactured chaos. "They have robbed and looted shops, stolen phones and more," the resident added, emphasizing that both supposed rival groups were actually working in concert.

Community members have expressed frustration with the inadequate security response, noting that existing vigilante groups lack the capacity to effectively counter these organized criminal activities. "Policemen are not enough, we need to help the police. We already have a vigilante group, but it is not powerful enough," lamented the resident.

The situation has escalated to the point where the young criminals now reportedly target women and youths to snatch their phones and other valuables. Residents are calling on parents, community leaders, and government authorities to take decisive action rather than dismissing the incidents as mere gang rivalry.

"We know these boys, we see them going about before each attack. We have been seeing them as they go back and forth, planning this attack," the resident revealed, urging a collaborative approach to addressing the growing security threat in the communities.

As of the time of this report, there has been no official statement from the Kano State Police Command regarding the incidents or any arrests made in connection with the violence and looting.