Edino Chubiyo Cornelius 
IGP Olatunji Disu
KANO, Nigeria — Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police has ordered a tougher crackdown on crime in Kano State, directing officers to intensify intelligence-led operations against gangs, cybercriminals and other security threats in one of West Africa’s largest commercial hubs.
The directive comes as police data show that the Kano State Command arrested and prosecuted 1,357 suspects between January and June 2026 for offences ranging from armed robbery and kidnapping to drug trafficking and vehicle theft.
Speaking on behalf of the Inspector-General, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Suleiman Abdul said Kano’s stability is vital not only to northern Nigeria but also to regional trade and commerce.
The directive was delivered during a strategic security lecture at the Kano State Police Command Headquarters in Bompai.
The police outlined a six-point strategy centred on intelligence-led policing, community engagement, technology-driven investigations, inter-agency collaboration, specialised operations and improved officer welfare.
Officers were urged to make greater use of digital forensics, crime analytics and the Nigeria Police Force Incident and Crime Database to identify criminal networks and track crime hotspots.
The Inspector-General also directed security personnel to sustain pressure on violent gangs, including the notorious Yan’Daba groups and cybercrime syndicates.
“Security agencies must remain ahead of criminal groups through sustained offensive actions rather than waiting to react after crimes have been committed,” Abdul said.
Kano State Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Bakori attributed recent successes to intelligence-based investigations and Operation Kukan Kura, a community-focused security initiative.
Despite these gains, Bakori warned of continuing threats, including bandit movements through border communities in Tudun Wada and Kiru local government areas.
He also cited communal conflicts in Makoda and Minjibir, as well as persistent drug trafficking and gang violence in Kano metropolis.
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Mirian Gom 
