Kano unveils anti-violent crime unit as security council meets over rising thuggery

The Kano State Government has convened an emergency security council meeting amid growing concerns over rising thuggery, armed street violence and fears of possible infiltration by criminal gangs from neighbouring states, as security agencies simultaneously unveiled a new special anti-violent crime squad aimed at restoring public confidence in law enforcement.

The high-level meeting, attended by heads of major security agencies including the police, military, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Office of the Director-General, Special Services, focused on strategies to tackle worsening insecurity across Kano metropolis and vulnerable border communities.

The emergency session comes against the backdrop of increasing reports of violent attacks, phone snatching, gang clashes and street crimes linked to youth gangs popularly known as “Daba,” whose activities have disrupted commercial and social activities in several parts of the state capital.

Concerns have also intensified over Kano’s proximity to troubled North-West states such as Zamfara, Katsina and Kaduna, where armed banditry and cross-border criminal activities continue to pose security threats.

In what officials described as a major shift towards proactive policing, the Kano State Police Command formally launched the Nigeria Police Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), a specialised rapid-response squad established to combat violent crimes through intelligence-driven operations and stronger community engagement.

Speaking during the unveiling, the Kano State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, said the new unit was designed to strengthen preventive policing and improve operational response to violent crimes across the state.

According to him, the VCRU would focus on intelligence gathering, rapid deployment and community collaboration while operating within the framework of professionalism, accountability and respect for human rights.

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“The focus is to build a policing structure that is proactive, intelligence-driven and people-oriented. We want to prevent crimes before they happen and ensure citizens feel protected while their rights are respected,” Bakori said.

He warned that security agencies would no longer tolerate acts of thuggery, banditry or unlawful possession of weapons.

“We will take decisive steps against bandits and thugs. Anyone caught wielding weapons will be prosecuted according to the law,” he added.
Security stakeholders at the meeting described the establishment of the VCRU as part of broader reforms aimed at modernising policing operations and rebuilding trust between residents and security agencies.

Bakori disclosed that officers attached to the unit had undergone rigorous tactical, intelligence and human rights training before deployment, adding that the command was also introducing technological tools and operational assets to improve response time and surveillance capabilities.

As part of efforts to promote transparency and accountability, the police command announced the creation of a State Civilian Oversight Board made up of civil society groups, traditional rulers, legal practitioners and community representatives to independently monitor the activities of the unit.

Authorities also established a dedicated public complaint desk at the VCRU headquarters located at No. 2 Bank Road near the Metro Area Command in Kano metropolis.

To improve public participation in security operations, the command unveiled two dedicated 24-hour emergency hotlines through which residents can confidentially report suspicious movements and criminal activities.

Bakori said community participation would remain central to the success of the initiative, stressing that improved cooperation between residents and security agencies would enhance intelligence gathering and help curb violent crimes.

The launch of the anti-violent crime unit received commendation from Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, whose administration was praised by stakeholders for supporting security agencies and promoting inter-agency collaboration to strengthen public safety.

Participants at the meeting also called for sustained support from government institutions, development partners and community leaders to ensure the success of ongoing security reforms and prevent the spread of criminal activities into communities across the state.

Authorities assured residents that security agencies remain on high alert and have intensified coordinated operations aimed at maintaining law and order throughout Kano State.