The Nigeria Police Force in Kano has arrested 149 suspected armed thugs amid a renewed crackdown on the resurgence of “Daba” gang violence that recently spread across parts of the metropolis, heightening fear among residents.
Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, Commissioner of Police, disclosed this on Wednesday while parading suspects and displaying recovered weapons and illicit substances at the command headquarters.
Bakori said the command observed a spike in violent crimes and social unrest in areas including Fagge, IBB Road and Hotoro quarters, while additional security concerns were also recorded along the Kano–Katsina border communities.
According to him, the police, in collaboration with other security agencies under the Joint Task Force, reviewed and strengthened operational strategies through intensified intelligence gathering, targeted raids, increased patrols and wider deployment of personnel.
He said the operations had disrupted criminal networks, restored calm in affected neighbourhoods and improved public confidence in security agencies.
The police commissioner added that additional operatives and logistics support had also been deployed to border local government areas to prevent infiltration by armed criminals and improve rapid response capacity.
Bakori revealed that between April 20 and May 20, 2026, the command recorded the arrest of 18 armed robbery suspects, five suspected kidnappers, 32 suspected drug dealers and 12 suspected vehicle thieves through intelligence-led operations and community policing efforts.
He further disclosed that three kidnapped victims were rescued unharmed and reunited with their families during the period.
Items recovered from suspects included one pistol, four locally made revolver guns, one locally fabricated revolver pistol, one Dane gun, five cartridges, 232 cutlasses and 374 knives.
The commissioner said all suspects were undergoing investigation and would be charged in court upon conclusion of the investigations.
Bakori also said the command had intensified internal supervision in line with the directives of the Inspector-General of Police to ensure professionalism, accountability and respect for human rights by officers in their dealings with members of the public.
He noted that the police had expanded engagements with traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth groups, market associations and community organisations as part of efforts to tackle the root causes of violent crimes and strengthen community participation in policing.
The commissioner added that collaboration with the military, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and local vigilante groups had also been enhanced through joint patrols and real-time intelligence sharing, especially in border communities vulnerable to criminal infiltration.
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