Published by Osasere Edomwonyi Ikpoba
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State has issued a firm pledge to crush the rising wave of banditry sweeping across the state, condemning recent attacks in four local government areas and ordering an immediate strengthening of surveillance, intelligence gathering, and rapid-response mechanisms to protect vulnerable communities. The governor's commitment comes as armed bandits intensify their operations in parts of Kano, raising alarm among residents and opposition figures alike.
The affected areas include Chiromawa in Garun Mallam Local Government Area, Beli in Rogo, Bebeji, and communities around Gwarzo. These attacks have resulted in multiple fatalities, including a chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Rogo and a young Almajiri, while scores of residents have been displaced or abducted. The governor, through a statement issued by his spokesman, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, expressed deep sympathy for the victims and their families, describing the incidents as "deeply disturbing and unacceptable".
In a direct response to the escalating insecurity, Yusuf has directed relevant authorities to intensify surveillance, intelligence gathering, and rapid response mechanisms in the affected areas. He assured affected communities that his administration would take all necessary measures, in collaboration with security agencies, to prevent further attacks and restore confidence among residents. The governor also commended security personnel for their efforts and urged them to sustain intelligence-led operations to protect vulnerable communities across the state.
Yusuf appealed to residents to remain calm and avoid actions that could heighten tension, while also urging them to cooperate with security personnel and provide credible information that could assist in preventing further attacks and apprehending the perpetrators. He prayed for the repose of the souls of those killed, speedy recovery for the injured, and the safe return of any abducted persons.
The governor's pledge comes amid growing political pressure, with opposition figures demanding urgent action. The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate in Kano State, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, has condemned the attacks and called for an urgent and coordinated security offensive. Gwarzo described the violence as a "disturbing threat to lives, livelihoods and economic activities," warning that residents must not be forced to abandon their homes, farms, and businesses because of criminal elements. "Every life lost to banditry is a painful reminder of the urgent need to strengthen our security architecture. We must not allow our people to become prisoners in their own communities," Gwarzo said.
The bandit incursions into Kano are part of a broader security crisis gripping Nigeria's North-West region, where armed gangs have terrorised rural communities for years. Governor Yusuf had previously acknowledged that banditry is a growing threat to Kano, noting that the state faces challenges including banditry, farmer-herder clashes, cybercrime, and the activities of criminal gangs. In earlier interventions, he had visited frontline communities and revealed that 95 percent of the bandits and kidnappers attacking Kano were from neighbouring Katsina State.
As part of longer-term solutions, the governor has proposed the establishment of a North-West Joint Border Surveillance Initiative aimed at tackling persistent banditry and other cross-border crimes affecting the region. His administration has also launched the Safe Corridor Initiative, a strategic programme designed to rehabilitate youths involved in drug abuse and other social vices before they drift into banditry, kidnapping, and violent extremism.
For now, the immediate focus remains on restoring security to the four affected local government areas. The governor has reaffirmed his administration's commitment to protecting the lives and property of all residents and ensuring peace and security across Kano State. Whether these measures will be sufficient to stem the tide of banditry remains to be seen, but Yusuf's message is clear: his government will not stand idly by while criminals terrorise the people of Kano.
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