A coordinated three-day operation by the Kano State Police Command has resulted in the arrest of 51 suspects and the seizure of dangerous weapons and illicit drugs across several high-risk communities within the Kano metropolis.
The intelligence-led crackdown, which took place from Friday, June 13, to Sunday, June 15, targeted criminal elements in parts of Kano Municipal, Dala, Gwale, and Tarauni Local Government Areas.
Law enforcement agents raided volatile zones such as Kofar Mata, Zage, Kurna, Rijiyar Lemo, Dorayi, Hotoro, and Sheka Quarters.
In a statement issued on Monday, Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Hussaini Abdullahi, revealed that the operation was aimed at disrupting entrenched criminal networks and reinforcing public safety in the metropolis.
“The Command’s intelligence-led offensives against thuggery in Kano metropolis have yielded tremendous success. A total of fifty-one (51) suspects were arrested, and several dangerous weapons and illicit drugs were recovered. The Command is fully determined to decisively tackle thuggery and its related offences,” the statement read.
Among the arrested individuals are young men, many in their early twenties, from communities like Sheka, Hausawa, Bachirawa, and Zango. Notable among them are 24-year-old Ayuba Zakariyya, known as Shamakin; 23-year-old Aliyu Usaini, also known as Aliko; and 19-year-old Abdulsalam Abubakar. All three were apprehended in locations identified as hotspots in Sheka and Kurna.
The Police Command also expressed concern over the rising trend of using weapons during traditional street performances such as Kidan Gangi. The practice, which involves parading through neighborhoods with swords, daggers, and other weapons, has been linked to an increase in street violence.
State Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, warned against posting such displays on social media, cautioning that it promotes gang culture and could influence younger individuals toward criminal behavior.
“Let this serve as a strong warning to individuals who engage in this form of reckless behaviour. The Kano State Police Command will not condone the promotion or normalisation of thuggery, either offline or online,” CP Bakori warned.
He urged parents and guardians to be more attentive to their children’s conduct both offline and online, warning of legal consequences for those found aiding criminal acts.
“Any parent found conspiring with their wards to conceal weapons or allowing such to be kept at home will be investigated and prosecuted accordingly,” the statement continued. “Blacksmiths who manufacture these dangerous weapons for youths will also face the full wrath of the law.”
The Command called on residents to support security efforts by reporting suspicious activity within their communities, assuring them that all tips will be handled with strict confidentiality.
