Africa
INSECURITY: Learn from Ganduje Before Kano Collapses -By Hadiza Nasir Ahmad Esq.
Kano is more than a state—it is the heartbeat of northern Nigeria. If Kano collapses, the entire region will suffer. Political differences must end where the safety of our people begins.
When I returned from work, my mother said to me, “You didn’t ask about Yaron‑ki—he is my favourite.” He is an Almajiri whose village was attacked by bandits. His family is fleeing, and he was supposed to travel with them, but a message warned him not to go—what if he is kidnapped?
He cried when he received the news. I later learned from a colleague that his hometown is Shanono, but because of the worsening insecurity he cannot even return home.
Scrolling through social media and reading updates, I realized how palpable the fear is. We are no longer safe. I always believed Kano could never fall to this level—but look at where we are today. Kano, the historic heart of the North, is bleeding.
Villages are emptying; people are terrified; and the state government remains silent. When citizens cannot move freely within their own state, and when parents warn their children to stay away from home for their own safety, we have crossed a dangerous line.
Kano is already battling the menace of _fadan daba_ (thuggery). This crisis is crippling businesses, and these _yan daba_ could easily be recruited by bandits if nothing is done. Unfortunately, the state government appears helpless. Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf—this is the time to wake from your slumber before it is too late.
Recent attacks in Biresawa and Tsundu in Tsanyawa Local Government, along with the recurring horrors in Shanono, have exposed the failures of the present administration. Bandits now operate with impunity between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m., abducting women, rustling livestock, and traumatizing entire communities. Villagers reportedly alerted authorities ahead of some attacks, yet their cries for help went unanswered.
The state government is silent; state‑owned media provides no direction; and the Chief Security Officer of the state—Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf—has shown no visible leadership. The police and military are trying their best, but they are fighting a war without a general. Security is not a political game; it is a matter of life and death. Sadly, the current administration is failing its most basic duty.
We must remember the past. Under former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Kano remained relatively secure while neighbouring states were ravaged by banditry. CCTV cameras monitored the metropolis.
The Falgore Forest was cleared in collaboration with the Federal Government. Federal and state security agencies worked closely to repel threats, including attempted Boko Haram incursions.
I recently visited Falgore in Doguwa Local Government down to Riruwai, and people openly praised Ganduje for the security measures he put in place. Leadership like that inspired confidence and made Kano safer.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf must swallow his pride and seek guidance—even if it means learning from Ganduje. The blueprint for a secure Kano already exists; it only requires the political will to implement it.
Silence and inaction are a recipe for disaster, risking the creation of a generation of desperate, unemployed youth vulnerable to criminal recruitment. Governor Yusuf bears ultimate responsibility.
He must act now: coordinate decisively with federal security agencies, empower and fund local community‑watch groups, and lead from the front to reassure a terrified populace.
Kano is more than a state—it is the heartbeat of northern Nigeria. If Kano collapses, the entire region will suffer. Political differences must end where the safety of our people begins.
The time for urgent, united, and decisive action is now. Kano is bleeding, and the responsibility to stop it rests squarely on Governor Yusuf’s shoulders. His legacy will be defined by how he responds in this moment of crisis.
Ahmad writes from Kano
hadizanasir00@gmail.com
