Police arrest 1,357 suspects as Kano intensifies crackdown on crime

Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, Kano State Commissioner of Police, has disclosed that the command arrested and prosecuted 1,357 suspects for various criminal offences between January and June 2026 as part of intensified efforts to tackle insecurity across the State.

Bakori made the disclosure on Wednesday at the Bompai Police Headquarters, Kano, during a strategic lecture for officers and men of the Kano State Police Command, where senior police authorities reviewed security strategies aimed at countering emerging threats and strengthening urban policing.

The commissioner said the Command had sustained aggressive operations against armed robbery, kidnapping, thuggery, drug abuse, vehicle theft and other violent crimes through intelligence-led policing, community engagement and proactive security measures.

According to him, the establishment of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), the continuation of Operation Kukan Kura, and the deployment of human and technological resources have enhanced the Command’s ability to combat criminal activities across the State.

Bakori noted that Kano Police Command currently operates 78 police stations, 11 area commands, and two Police Mobile Force squadrons strategically deployed across the state to improve security coverage in both urban and rural communities.

Despite the successes recorded, he warned that intelligence reports indicate fresh security concerns, including attempts by bandits to infiltrate Kano through border communities in Tudun Wada and Kiru Local Government Areas, recurring farmer-herder clashes in Makoda and Minjibir local government areas, and persistent activities of youth gangs and drug traffickers within the metropolis.

He said the Command had responded by strengthening joint border patrols, conducting regular clearance operations at identified criminal hideouts and expanding stakeholder engagements through town hall meetings involving traditional rulers, community leaders and other critical actors.

Bakori reaffirmed the commitment of the officers and men of the command to protecting lives and property, pledging continued loyalty and dedication to the policing vision of the Inspector-General of Police.

Speaking during the lecture, Sulaiman Abdul, Deputy Inspector-General of Police, who represented Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Rilwan Disu, charged officers to sustain offensive operations against criminal elements and adopt intelligence-driven strategies in securing Kano’s commercial environment.

He conveyed a goodwill message from the Inspector-General, commending officers for recent operational successes against bandits and other violent criminals while urging them to maintain the momentum.

Abdul outlined six strategic pillars guiding the current policing agenda, including intelligence-led and technology-driven policing, accountability and respect for human rights, community policing, inter-agency collaboration, operational specialisation and improved personnel welfare.

He stressed that Kano’s growing population and commercial significance require security personnel to focus on dismantling violent youth gangs, combating cyber-enabled financial crimes and preventing insurgent or transnational criminal networks from exploiting the State as a logistics base.

The Deputy Inspector-General also directed officers to fully implement the Nigeria Police Force Crime and Incident Database for suspect profiling and crime mapping while enforcing regulations against concealed or unregistered vehicle number plates commonly used by criminal elements.

He further urged the command to institutionalise monthly engagements with market associations, youth groups, religious organisations and traditional institutions to strengthen public trust and improve intelligence gathering.

The lecture, themed “Asymmetric Threat Preemption, Urban Gang Management and Securing Commercial Hubs,” formed part of efforts by the police leadership to enhance operational effectiveness and reinforce security across Kano State.