Silence Is Golden, But Kano Government’s Silence on Insecurity and Thuggery Is Dangerous -By Sale Rusulana Yanguruza

From the killing of innocent people in the Lakwaya area of Gwarzo Local Government, the political thuggery clash, popularly known as (Faɗan Daba) within Kano metropolis, the killing of Mamiyo in Tofa Local Government Area, and the reaction of angry youths in Gwarzo Local Government that led to parts of the local government secretariat being set ablaze, yet the Kano State Government has remained silent.

These incidents go beyond political framing; they are dangerous developments threatening the peace of Kano. Although the popular adage says that silence is golden, and even in crisis communication silence can sometimes be strategic but the rising and returning insecurity in some local governments bordering Katsina State, including Tsanyawa, Gwarzo, and Shanono, is deeply worrisome. It is not an ordinary crisis that the Kano State Government should overlook or remain silent about instead of taking concrete and decisive actions.

Furthermore, the Kano State Government, unlike in previous months when the governor showed readiness to tackle the insecurity bedeviling some Kano local governments, particularly those bordering Katsina State, deserves commendation for taking various measures to address insecurity. These included the establishment of the Kano State Neighbourhood Watch Corps and the procurement of digital tools to fight insecurity in those areas. After all these efforts, insecurity in those communities was reduced, making people feel that hope had returned to their communities.

However, the question now remains: why is insecurity returning to those areas while the Kano State Government is yet to respond to the re-emergence of these bandits despite several calls from citizens and reports from the media? Additionally, there have recently been various reports from citizens that thuggery activities, popularly known as Daba, are also increasing within Kano metropolis.

Unfortunately, neither the Kano State Government, the governor, nor his media aides have offered even sympathy or condolence messages to the affected areas. It seems the governor is busy with political consensus-building while people in some parts of the state he leads find it difficult to sleep peacefully because of insecurity.

Elections are very crucial in a democratic system, but citizens are the ones who elect leaders. It appears that electioneering consensus-building and primary elections are now receiving more attention from the Kano State Government and the governor than the ongoing Daba and banditry activities in Kano State.

It is important to remember that the government is the hope of the citizens, and the people expect the government to intervene whenever crises occur. When the government fails to act swiftly on critical matters, it sometimes triggers anger among citizens, which may not bring positive outcomes for either the government or the people. The Gwarzo Local Government incident is an example that should be given priority attention by the Kano State Government.

Furthermore, it is imperative for the Kano State Government to critically and swiftly focus on addressing the insecurity affecting the people of Kano State. Immediately after the newly appointed Deputy Governor, Murtala Sule Garo, assumed office, he, alongside some top Kano politicians, including Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, escorted former Senator Bello Hayatu Gwarzo to his ward, where he was registered as a member of the APC in Gwarzo.

If the Kano State Government can honour such a political event because of a defection to the APC, then the people who have lost their lives in Lakwaya, as well as communities still facing serious security threats, deserve even greater attention, efforts and commitment from the government.

I kindly urge His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kano State, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf, to swiftly refocus on the current re-emergence of banditry and youth thuggery activities in Kano State in order to address them permanently, because protecting the lives and properties of citizens remains the primary responsibility of every government.

Conclusively, silence can never be a solution in governance; however, government actions such as issuing condolence messages, sending delegations, or acknowledging that something has gone wrong can help to heal the minds of those affected.