Kano state Commissioner for Internal Security and Special Services, Air Vice Marshal Ibrahim Umar (rtd), speaks on how Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s administration is tackling bandits who are infiltrating Kano, from neighbouring states, through border communities. The security expert also commented on how the New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP) government is transforming Kano into one of the safest states in Nigeria through consistent fight against drug abuse, youth restiveness, and poverty. In this interview with MADUABUCHI NMERIBEH, he insisted that Governor Yusuf’s human capital development policy, youth and women empowerment programmes, are part of the major tools being used to combat insecurity in Kano.
How is Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s administration curbing recent incursion of bandits from neighbouring states into Kano?
You are aware that since inception on May 29, 2023, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s administration, has continued to ensure that Kano remains safe for residents, visitors and investors. We have not recorded any major security threats or skirmishes, until recently, when remnants of bandits from neighbouring states are trying to infiltrate our dear state through border communities, particularly, in Tsanyawa and Shanono Local Government Areas, near Katsina state. We are not sleeping over their attempt, as adequate measures (both proactive and active) are being taken to halt their menace. You and I know that security is everybody’s business. The activities of bandits cannot be adequately tackled by the state government alone. This is why our able Governor, His Excellency, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf, after taken immediate action to calm the situation, visited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and briefed him on the situation on ground. The two leaders discussed the issue, and President Tinubu, in his wisdom, ordered the deployment of Special Security Team to Kano. Governor Yusuf is also holding security meetings with all security heads in the state. Already, a Joint Security Task Force is fully operational in the troubled areas. The Tasf Force comprises of all security agencies, including vigilante groups. They are bringing the situation under control.
What is the impact of Governor Yusuf’s recent visit to the community bordering Katsina state, where the bandits are holding sway?
Governor Yusuf’s visit to Tsanyawa and Shanono Local Government Areas displayed his trait as a caring and compassionate leader. He commiserated with the victims of bandit attacks and assured that the nefarious activities of the enemies of the state shall soon be nipped in the bud. He also personally encouraged members of the Joint Task Force, assuring them of the state government’s steady support and encouragement. Already, I can confirm to you that the state government has provided enough mobility, logistics, and operational support, required by security agencies to effectively confront banditry across the state. Our desire is to ensure that every community in Kano state enjoys full government protection.
Are you impressed by the way the JTF are operating to confront banditry in those troubled areas?
Yes. I am highly impressed, going by the records available at my disposal so far. You know that Governor Yusuf, during his visit, spoke to officers of the JTF as a father. He encouraged them to remain patriotic. He directed security operatives to remain focused, maintain vigilance, and intensify intelligence gathering, with close collaboration with local communities. I must also emphasize that community-based intelligence remains one of the most reliable tools for identifying threats and preventing attacks. Already, we have ensured additional deployments of security operatives, improved inter-agency coordination, and enhanced mobility, in those troubled areas. We have procured enough security vehicles, motorcycles and other required equipment they deserve to combat the incursion of banditry into the state. We have also secured drones and other logistics for surveillance and rapid response in order to protect inhabitants of the border areas between Kano and Katsina states.
Would you say peace has returned to those troubled border communities?
To a large extent, the people in those areas are heaving a sigh of relief. From all indications, peace and order are gradually returning to those communities. The security measures in those areas, and across the state are still in place. The JTF members are not sleeping. The bandits have realized that Kano is not a fertile place for their nefarious activities. They are being neutralised on daily basis. Our farmers are returning to their farms. You are also away that further security measures have been taken, with the ban of commercial motorcycles operating within the metropolitan Kano. Even the operation of tricycles have been reviewed from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. on daily basis. These proactive measures are taken to stop the spread of the unpatriotic activities of the bandits.
You can agree with me that the problem of insecurity has lingered in the North-West for so long. Even though Kano has been relatively peaceful, you can not discuss the North-West without mentioning Kano, which is the commercial nerve centre of northern Nigeria. How is Kano helping to stop the persistent insecurity in the North-West region?
There is no gainsaying the fact that persistent insecurity in the North-West states and its attendant consequences have continued to dampen the opportunities of the region to grow and utilize its abundant resources for socio-economic growth and prosperity. The nefarious activities of bandits and kidnappers have not only scared local and foreign investors, but have also disrupted economic activities of residents whose major source of livelihood remain farming and rearing of livestock. The ugly scenario has also discouraged adequate utilization of our mineral, natural and human resources for economic emancipation. The problem remains the same from Kaduna to Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi states, where bandits and other criminal elements have continued to subvert economic growth and social development. Here in Kano, we have continued to encourage peace, security, investment, and development across the North-West by strengthening regional security cooperation, fostering economic growth through industrial parks and improved ease of doing business, and implementing social development programmes, like conflict resolution and community policing. These efforts require a multi-pronged approach involving federal and state government collaboration, leveraging Kano’s position as a commercial hub while addressing challenges like infrastructure gaps and resource constraints. Kano state has continued to demonstrate its readiness to strengthening collaboration with neighboring North-West states and the Federal Government to create a unified security strategy, including intelligence sharing and joint operations so as to block infiltration routes where bandits and other criminal elements penetrate our region. Kano state has also been at the forefront of improving the capacity of security agencies with modern equipment, specialized training, and increased manpower in vulnerable areas. The latest being recent donations of Hilux vehicles and motorcycles to the Joint Task Force (Operation MESA) fighting banditry at the border communities of Shanono and Tsanyawa Local Government Areas. Kano state government has also continued to support community vigilante groups and neighborhood watches to work alongside formal law enforcement agencies, fostering trust and cooperation through dialogue between traditional rulers, religious leaders, opinion leaders, youth leaders, and security personnel. Kano state is also implementing mediation programmes and awareness campaigns to address root causes of conflict, such as disputes over land and water, and support rehabilitation programmes for victims and former combatants. Moreso, the state is doing a lot to ensure cordial relationship between farmers and herders. Being the commercial nerve centre of northern Nigeria, Kano state government has continued to improve the business environment, streamlining business registration processes and reducing bureaucratic hurdles to improve the ease of doing business, particularly, for our brothers from other North-West states. The state is also establishing and expanding industrial parks and free trade zones to attract local and international investors with tax incentives, building and developing reliable infrastructure. We have continued to develop infrastructure, including transportation networks, to support economic growth and improve public services. Apart from empowering women and youths in the agricultural sector in a bid to fight poverty and ensure food security, which overtly and covertly fight insecurity, Kano state ensures adequate value chains that link agriculture with processing industries to modernize the sector and generate jobs. Kano state is at the forefront of promoting inclusive governance. We implement participatory decision-making processes and ensure equitable resource distribution to build public trust and reduce tension. The state government also improve access to education and healthcare to reduce poverty and inequality, which can be root causes of instability and insecurity. We also collaborate with partners to integrate climate resilience into development programmes, which can address resource scarcity-related conflicts and improve public health. Indeed, Kano is also contributing to North West Nigeria’s peace and security framework by leveraging its unique strengths in traditional and religious institutions, its economic importance as a commercial hub, and its recent initiatives in governance and youth empowerment. These contributions include mediating ethno-religious conflicts, acting as a hub for security coordination and economic development, and providing a model for youth engagement and inclusive governance across the region.
Do you think there is consistent collaboration between the North-West Governors’ Forum and the North-West Development Commission in combating insecurity across the region?
Well, I strongly recommend the need for consistent synergy, collaboration and corporation between the leadership of the North-West Governors’ Forum and the North-West Development Commission. This collaboration will not only bring about the needed transformation and development in the region, but will also ensure that fiscal allocations made for the development of the region are well utilized and evenly distributed among all the North-West states, ensuring the promotion of equity, transparency and social justice. North-West Development Commission is primarily inaugurated to fight poverty, insecurity and ensure development. Its steady collaboration and synergy with North-West Governors’ Forum, will go a long way towards ensuring that the Commission carry out its responsibilities and obligations across all the benefitting states.
How effective has Kano state government been fighting drug abuse which is a major cause of insecurity?
Governo Abba Kabir Yusuf has been very consistent in fighting the menace of drug abuse across the state. There is a Special Taskforce against drug abuse and phone snatching. Their operations are yielding positive results. You know that the steady fight against drug abuse was introduced by former Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwso who is the leader of the Kwankwassiyya Movement. You are also aware that the Abba Gida-Gida government is built on the principles and ideolgy of the Kwankwassiyya political philosophy. We have rehabilitation programme for drug addicts. We are routing drug barons out of business. Governor Yusuf has resuscitated the abandoned Kano Reformatory Institute in Kiru. We are currently winning the war against drug abuse in Kano.
Apart from encouraging security agencies to perform their duties through provision of logistics. Are you making extra efforts to combat security in the state through creation of civilian security guards?
Yes. We have the Neighborhood Watch and the Task-Force on Phone Snatching . Before this administration came on board in 2023, many youths were mostly used as political thugs by politicians and they virtually hang around government offices to beg for survival as they had nothing doing, while most of them took to burglary, phone-snatching and other violent crimes to survive. To curb the ugly trend, we inaugurated a taskforce committee that is fighting phone-snatching and other violent crimes. We established the Security Guards Institute, with the aim of curtailing youth restiveness, crime, thuggery and joblessness of the uneducated youths in Kano. In the Security Guard Institute, many jobless youths are being trained and employed as security guards of government and private agencies with others engaged as Kano Road Transport Agency (KAROTA) staff. Undoubtedly, that has put smiles on the faces of parents, spouses, relatives and children of the employees, as they are converted from socio-security time-bombs to productive citizens and breadwinners of their respective families. Through that initiatives, the state has witnessed a socio-economic boom and favorable security atmosphere. Hence, people are going about their daily tasks with peace of mind and tranquility without the fear of intimidation by jobless youths. The Neighbourhood Watch vigilante security outfit and the Operation Stop Snatching Phone are the two groups created to complement the efforts of security agencies in fighting crime and maintaining peace and order in the localities. The Neighbourhood Watch agents also keep watch on movements within the communities and border towns, gather intelligence on infiltration of bandits, cattle rustlers and other alien criminal elements.
How has Governor Yusuf’s administration been managing the 26 Institutes established by former Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso?
You know that these very important Institutes and Skills Acquisition Centres were abandoned by the immediate-past administration. But Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, in his wisdom, decided to resuscitate them. Our zeal is to ensure that the teeming youths of Kano are economically and educationally empowered. All the Institutes are working. The Institutes are vital for fostering entrepreneurship and skill development among youth and women. They are fuelling economic growth and job creation. The essence of establishing the Institutes was derived from the passion of an enthusiastic advocate of good governance and collective prosperity, Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso. They are established with a mandate to equip Kano’s youth and women with soft and hard skills in various fields, the Kwankwassiyya entrepreneurship Institutes laid the groundwork for a new generation of innovators and entrepreneurs in Kano state. These Institutes, notably the Kwankwasiyya Skills Acquisition Centers, the Kwankwasiyya Women Empowerment Scheme, and the Kwankwasiyya Youth Empowerment Scheme, are playing pivotal roles in nurturing a culture of entrepreneurship and economic growth in Kano state. They are advancing economic growth and youth empowerment. They are providing the necessary platform for the youth to tap into the potentials of the twenty-first-century economy. Their significance extend beyond the borders of Kano state, influencing the broader Nigerian economic landscape. They serve as a potential boost for Kano state’s economy. The Institutes foster skilled entrepreneurship, and significantly contributing to job creation, wealth generation, and overall economic growth.
How functional is the Security Communication Centre (SCC), installed within the metropolitan city?
The all-important Security Communication Centre located under the Kofar Nassarawa Bridge is functioning effectively. It was established to serve as Quick Response Centre (QRC). It was designed and equipped with modern CCTV Cameras and manned by well trained security personnel. The communication Centre is covering 10 identified locations namely: Zaria Road/Dangi Flyover; Emir’s Palace premises; SSG Office premises; Government House Roundabout; Iyaka Road; Dr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso Flyover K/Nassarawa; IBB Way/Obasanjo Road Roundabout; IBB Road by Plaza Junction; BUK Road by Gidan Murtala. Through surveillance cameras, the police can both prevent crimes from happening, and can quickly solve criminal cases with material evidence. In addition, surveillance cameras protect against property theft, and vandalism. With the facility, security of lives and property within the state are improving.
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