A Surge in Violence & Public Fear
Kano State has witnessed a sharp spike in phone snatching, thuggery, and violent robberies across its urban environment.
Recent cases include the killing of Sadiq Shu’iabu Gentle, a social media influencer, in one attack, and a student from Bayero University, Kano, in another.
In response, several media houses launched a joint awareness campaign titled “Our Security, Our Right”, in collaboration with local communities, to spotlight the daily toll of violent street crime.
Government & Community Reactions
- Authorities deployed 1,050 security operatives to 52 identified hotspots across Kano in efforts to reclaim public safety.
- More than 300 arrests have been reported in recent months in locations like Sheka, Dorayi, Zango, and Kofar Mata.
- Community vigilante groups and outraged residents have begun to take justice into their own hands — beating suspects, burning tricycles used in crimes, and handing suspects over to police.
In one instance from Kofar Ruwa (Dala LGA), locals apprehended a suspected snatcher, severely beat him, and handed him over to law enforcement.
Root Causes: Drugs, Unemployment & Marginalization
Many analysts point to drug abuse, especially misuse of tramadol, codeine, and other controlled substances, as fueling a deluge of violence among youth in Kano.
Combined with high youth unemployment, weak social safety nets, and a sense of marginalization, violent crime has become a desperate fast-track solution for disenfranchised youths.
Some social commentators demand a state of emergency on crime and drug abuse, along with youth rehabilitation programs, community policing, and better coordination among security agencies.
New Marshals: A Bold Response
In response to this urban crisis, the Kano State government has deployed 380 Anti-Phone Snatching Marshals.
These security auxiliaries are intended to patrol vulnerable zones, act as eyes and ears, and collaborate with formal agencies.
The training of the first batch was overseen by Captain Mohamed Beno (Rtd.), who emphasized discipline, vigilance, and partnership with the police.
Whether this strategy — community marshals backed by professional security forces — will restore public confidence remains to be seen.