Kano Police Clampdown 3,146 Criminal Suspects in 2025 as CP Bakori Assures of Further Tightening the Noose on Them in Years Ahead
By Felix Mordi
The Kano State Police Command has come up with a scintillating record of its achievements for past one year, stating that a total of 3,146 suspected criminals were apprehended between January 1, 2025 to date.
Disclosing this at the command’s end year 2025 press briefing, held in Bompai, headquarters of command on Wednesday, December 30, the state Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, stated that the suspects were arrested for major crimes across 78 Police divisions, 11 area commands and seven tactical units, with directives from his office.
Equally, according to the CP, the state’s departments of Operations, Investigation and Intelligence were fully involved in the success story, leading to recovery of several firearms, dangerous weapons, illicit drugs, stolen properties, and other sundry exhibits
A breakdown of suspects nabbed during the period under review were 146 armed robbers; 50 kidnappers; 112 drug dealers; 85 motor vehicles thieves; 45 tricycles thieves; 83 motorcycle thieves; 154 thieves; 56 fraudsters; and 2,350 thugs, otherwise known as “Yan- Daba”.
Noting that 14 kidnapped victims were rescued during the period, CP Bakori, however itemized the arms and ammunition recovered to consist of nine AK-47 rifles; 13 English pistols; eight
Revolver pistols; three Pump Action guns;
37 locally-made revolver rifles;and 26 locally-fabricated guns.
198 rounds of live ammunition; 28) live cartridges; 298 cutlasses; 625 knives; 81 axes; 88 Clubs, also known as Gora; 97 swords; 183) sharp irons; 94 motor vehicles; 52 tricycles; 99 motorcycles; 15 rustled cattle; 145 mobile phones; and
20 POS machines were recovered.
Also recovered were 37 ATM cards; 67 SIM cards; four bags, 523 parcels and 1,242 wraps of suspected Cannabis Sativa; 358 packs and 67,200 pieces of Diazepam tablets; six cartons, 74,750 pieces of Pregabalin tablets; 634 cartons, 60,300 pieces of Tramadol tablets; 1,490 cartons of Exol tablets; 384 bottles of Codeine cough syrup; 754 sachets of local intoxicant “Rubber Solution”; 2,450 bottles of suspected illicit substance; seven bags, 2450 bottles of suspected intoxicant “Akuskura”, used for intoxication and hallucination.
The CP noted that on assumption of duty on March 17, 2025, as the 47th Commissioner of Police in the state, he
obtained briefs from the command’s management team and various security quarters on the security situation of the state.
“A careful study of same revealed different security challenges across the 44 LGAs of the state, including reports of thuggery (Fadan Daba), mobile phone robbery and drug abuse among youths within the eight LGAs in Kano Metropolis (Kano Municipal, Dala, Gwale, Fagge, Tarauni, Nassarawa, Ungoggo and Kumbotso), the threats of infiltration of bandits in 17 frontline border LGAs of the state, and also reports of farmers and herders clashes at 19 LGAs that are neither at the border, nor the metropolis,” he said.
To address these horde of criminal acts, the CP came up with a roadmap, which, he said, was in line with the vision, mission, directives and guidance of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun,
According to him, “After critical assessments of the threats; a crime mapping exercise was conducted, that birthed a robust result-oriented action with, but not limited to, the following strategies: enhanced community policing engagements; intelligence-led policing; regular capacity building in form of training and retraining programs for officers in areas of administration, operations, investigation and intelligence.
”Synergy with other security agencies, especially in Joint Border Patrols;
operationalization and expansion of Cybercrime Unit; massive public enlightenment and sensitization on radio, television and the news media, on the need for members of the public to partner with the Police in crime fighting through volunteering of credible information; as well as launching of “Operation Kukan Kura,” he added.
Effect of the strategies put in place, the command’s Police boss said, yielded tremendous results highlighted above, adding that it will not only be sustained, but will be improved upon.
He said, “The year 2026 looks very promising in terms of keeping the state even safer and more secure, as the command will continue to expand community policing engagements, improve round-the-clock visibility patrols, structured intelligence-generation mechanisms, increase in manpower and equipment deployment at Kano border areas; and use of conventional and the social media in its public enlightenment and sensitization campaigns for better synergy with members of the public.”
CP Bakori, however, appreciated the support and cooperation of Kano State Government, the good people of the state, other security agencies, traditional rulers, religious leaders, community leaders, the media, members of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Vigilante Groups and other community policing stakeholders for their supports, encouragement, prayers and cooperation.
The CP also commended the relentless efforts of gallant officers and men of the command, saying they sacrificed a lot to earn the command of the achievements.
“We must appreciate the fact that with the drastic reduction in crimes across the state, the latter is experiencing a new wave of peace and security, needed for both political and economic stability of the nation at large”, noting that “Today, the issue of thuggery and mobile phones robbery is becoming history with the successful implementation of ‘Operation Kukan Kura’ ; farmers and herders clashes have been surmounted by means community-centric approach and the threat of infiltration of bandits to the state through some border LGAs have been collectively and squarely faced with all seriousness.
”Therefore, we have all the reasons to thank Almighty Allah (SWT) for these successes recorded,” the CP said in conclusion.
