The Nigeria Police Force has intensified its offensive against crime in Kano State, with the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Olatunji Disu, charging officers and men of the Kano State Command to sustain proactive operations against criminal elements threatening the state’s security and economic stability.
The charge was delivered by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Finance and Administration, DIG Suleiman Muhammed Abdul, during a strategic engagement with officers and men at the Kano State Police Command Headquarters in Bompai, Kano.
The engagement, themed “Asymmetric Threat Preemption, Urban Gang Management, and Securing Commercial Hubs,” focused on strengthening urban security and safeguarding Kano’s position as Northern Nigeria’s commercial hub.
The IGP commended the personnel for their recent successes in crime-fighting operations, including the arrest and neutralisation of criminal elements and bandit kingpins.
“I am proud of your outstanding performance this week. You have taken the battle straight to the criminals with bold actions, recording major successes through arrests and the neutralisation of bandits and their kingpins. The people are noticing our courage. Well done,” the IGP said in a message conveyed by the DIG.
The police chief emphasised that security agencies must remain on the offensive against criminals, noting that proactive policing is more effective than reactive responses.
IGP Olatunji Disu outlined six key pillars driving the current police reform agenda, which include intelligence-led and technology-driven policing, strict accountability and human rights compliance, community policing and public trust, inter-agency collaboration, operational specialisation, and enhanced personnel welfare and capacity building.
He urged the Kano Command to leverage data analytics, digital forensics, and the Nigeria Police Force Incident and Crime Database (NPF-ICD) to track criminal networks, identify crime hotspots, and disrupt illicit financial activities linked to gang operations.
The IGP also directed officers to intensify efforts against violent youth gangs popularly known as Yan Daba, cyber-enabled financial crimes, and transnational criminal groups seeking to exploit Kano’s vast commercial activities.
He stressed the need for regular engagement with market associations, youth groups, traditional institutions, and religious leaders to strengthen intelligence gathering and public trust.
According to him, the newly established Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) represents a strategic shift toward intelligence-based operations, professionalism, and accountability, warning that corruption, extortion, and human rights abuses would not be tolerated.
Also speaking, the Kano State Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Bakori, highlighted the command’s achievements in combating crime and maintaining public safety across the state.
He disclosed that from January 2026 to date, the command had arrested and prosecuted 1,357 suspects for various offences, including armed robbery, kidnapping, thuggery, drug-related crimes, and vehicle theft.
Bakori attributed the successes to intelligence-led policing, proactive operations, community engagement initiatives, the launch of the Violent Crime Response Unit, and the continued implementation of Operation Kukan Kura, the command’s community-based crime-fighting strategy.
He said the command had responded to emerging security concerns by intensifying border patrols, conducting periodic clearance operations at criminal hideouts, and strengthening collaboration with the state government, traditional rulers, and community leaders.
Bakori assured residents that officers and men of the Kano State Command remain committed to implementing the IGP’s vision of intelligence-driven and community-based policing aimed at protecting lives, property, and businesses across the state.
The IGP representative also met with civil society organisations and other Stakeholders to strengthen security.
