By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu, Kano
The Kano State Police Command has intensified its crackdown on criminal elements in the state, arresting 157 suspects and recovering a large cache of arms, ammunition, and illicit drugs estimated at over N150 million within the past four weeks.
Addressing journalists at the Police Headquarters in Bompai on Wednesday, the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, said the swift and coordinated operations were part of a strategic effort to tackle rising security concerns across the state.
“Upon assuming duty, I was fully briefed on the security landscape of Kano. It became immediately clear that we needed to act fast. Our response was to deploy intelligence-led joint operations, 24-hour patrols, and strengthen our collaboration with communities,” he stated.
Among the key successes recorded was the dismantling of a major gun-running syndicate. The police recovered 19 fabricated revolver rifles, two English pistols, and over 100 live cartridges during the operation.
In a separate sting, officers intercepted large consignments of banned substances, including tramadol worth over N150 million, six cartons of ampicillin, and hundreds of tablets and bottles of other dangerous drugs such as Exol and “suck and die.”
A breakdown of the arrests made between March 17 and April 16, 2025, includes 24 armed robbery suspects, 14 drug dealers, seven car thieves, five motorcycle thieves, 28 thieves, and 79 suspected street gang members, commonly referred to as ‘Yan Daba.’
Other recovered items include two vehicles, two tricycles, three motorcycles, 57 cutlasses, 71 knives, 15 sharp irons (locally known as Dan Bida), and even a bow and arrows—signaling the range of weapons used by criminals in the state.
“These figures reflect our proactive stance and the unwavering commitment of our officers to rid Kano of criminal activities and ensure public safety,” CP Bakori said.
He also revealed that the command will soon roll out community-based engagement programs and intelligence-driven deployments to key flashpoints across Kano. He emphasized that these preventive efforts are crucial to maintaining the relative peace and stability the state currently enjoys.
“We are not relenting. Security is a shared responsibility, and we urge residents to continue supporting the police with credible information,” he added.