A three-day crackdown by the Kano State Police Command has led to the arrest of 51 individuals and the recovery of dangerous weapons and illicit drugs in several volatile communities across the Kano metropolis.
The intelligence-driven operation, which ran from Friday, June 13, to Sunday, June 15, focused on dismantling criminal networks entrenched in parts of Kano Municipal, Dala, Gwale, and Tarauni Local Government Areas.
Police operatives stormed high-risk zones including Kofar Mata, Zage, Kurna, Rijiyar Lemo, Dorayi, Hotoro, and Sheka Quarters.
According to a statement released Monday by Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Hussaini Abdullahi, the suspects were found in possession of weapons commonly used to instill fear in residents.
He emphasized that the clampdown aligns with the Command’s continued efforts to eliminate thuggery and its consequences in Kano.
“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.
Many of those apprehended are in their early twenties and come from neighborhoods such as Sheka, Hausawa, Bachirawa, and Zango. Among them are notable figures like 24-year-old Ayuba Zakariyya, known as Shamakin; 23-year-old Aliyu Usaini, a.k.a Aliko; and Abdulsalam Abubakar, 19. The trio was picked up from crime-prone spots around Sheka and Kurna.
The police also condemned the use of weapons during traditional performances like Kidan Gangi, a controversial practice where youths display swords, daggers, and similar arms while marching through neighborhoods.
Authorities have linked the trend to escalating street violence.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, cautioned against sharing such displays on social media platforms, noting their potential to glamorize gang culture and lure teenagers into criminal activity.
“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 further called on parents and guardians to be more vigilant over their children’s activities both in real life and online spaces.
“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 urged residents to partner with security agencies by reporting any suspicious actions in their communities, assuring them that all reports will be treated with the highest confidentiality.
