The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has directed personnel of the Kano State Police Command to intensify operations against criminal groups threatening peace and security in the state.
The directive was delivered on Wednesday through the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Finance and Administration, Suleiman Abdul, during a strategic security lecture held at the Kano State Police Command Headquarters in Bompai.
Speaking at the event themed “Asymmetric Threat Preemption, Urban Gang Management, and Securing Commercial Hubs,” Abdul stressed the strategic importance of Kano as a major commercial centre whose stability impacts economic activities across Northern Nigeria and neighbouring West African countries.
He commended the command for its recent successes in combating insecurity, particularly in the fight against banditry, armed robbery, and other violent crimes.
According to him, the Inspector-General praised officers for taking decisive action against criminal elements.
“You have taken the battle straight to the criminals with bold actions, recording major successes through arrests and the neutralisation of bandits and their kingpins. It is far better to strike first and remain on the offensive than to be merely reactive,” the IG said.
Disu also unveiled a six-point security framework aimed at enhancing policing nationwide. The strategy focuses on intelligence-led and technology-driven policing, accountability and respect for human rights, community engagement, inter-agency collaboration, operational specialisation, and improved welfare for police personnel.
He urged officers to make greater use of modern crime-fighting technologies, including digital forensics, crime analytics, and the Nigeria Police Force Incident and Crime Database, to identify criminal patterns, monitor high-risk areas, and dismantle organised crime networks.
The police chief further directed the command to maintain pressure on violent youth gangs known locally as Yan’Daba, cybercrime syndicates, and other criminal groups seeking to exploit Kano’s commercial environment.
Emphasising the importance of public confidence in law enforcement, Disu called for stronger engagement with traditional rulers, religious leaders, market associations, and youth groups to improve intelligence gathering and strengthen crime prevention efforts.
He warned officers against misconduct, stressing that corruption, extortion, abuse of office, and human rights violations would not be tolerated.
He noted that the recently established Violent Crime Response Unit was designed to promote professionalism, accountability, and intelligence-driven policing.
Earlier, the Kano State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Bakori, highlighted the command’s achievements, revealing that 1,357 suspects were arrested and prosecuted between January and June 2026 for offences ranging from armed robbery and kidnapping to drug-related crimes, thuggery, and vehicle theft.
Bakori attributed the achievements to intelligence-led investigations, proactive policing initiatives, the establishment of the Violent Crime Response Unit, and Operation Kukan Kura, a community-based crime prevention programme.
Despite these gains, he identified several emerging security concerns, including the infiltration of bandits through border communities in Tudun Wada and Kiru Local Government Areas, communal conflicts in Makoda and Minjibir LGAs, and persistent drug trafficking and gang activities within Kano metropolis.
The commissioner said the command had responded by strengthening border surveillance, conducting clearance operations against criminal hideouts, and deepening collaboration with government agencies, traditional institutions, and community stakeholders.
He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to implementing the Inspector-General’s vision of intelligence-driven and community-oriented policing to safeguard lives, property, and economic activities across Kano State.
