The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has ordered a renewed offensive against criminal elements in Kano State, directing police operatives to take the fight to bandits, gangs and other violent offenders threatening security in the state’s commercial centre.
The directive was delivered on Wednesday through the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Finance and Administration, DIG Suleiman Abdul, during a strategic lecture held at the Kano State Police Command Headquarters in Bompai.
The lecture, titled “Asymmetric Threat Preemption, Urban Gang Management, and Securing Commercial Hubs,” focused on strengthening policing strategies to address emerging security threats in Kano and other major economic centres across the country.
Addressing officers and men of the command, the Inspector-General described Kano as a vital commercial hub whose security and stability have significant implications for economic activities across Northern Nigeria and the wider West African sub-region.
Disu commended the command for its recent operational successes against criminal elements, particularly in the areas of banditry, armed robbery and organised crime.
“You have taken the battle straight to the criminals with bold actions, recording major successes through arrests and the neutralisation of bandits and their kingpins. It is far better to strike first and remain on the offensive than to be merely reactive,” the IG said.
As part of efforts to strengthen internal security nationwide, the police leadership unveiled a six-point security framework built around intelligence-led and technology-driven policing, accountability and respect for human rights, community policing, inter-agency collaboration, operational specialisation and improved welfare for personnel.
The Inspector-General urged officers to embrace modern crime-fighting tools, including digital forensics, crime data analytics and the Nigeria Police Force Incident and Crime Database, to improve intelligence gathering and dismantle criminal networks.
He also directed the command to sustain pressure on violent youth gangs popularly known as Yan’Daba, cybercriminals and other criminal groups seeking to exploit Kano’s large commercial environment.
According to him, effective policing cannot be achieved without the trust and cooperation of the public.
The police chief therefore called for stronger engagement with market associations, youth groups, traditional rulers, religious leaders and other stakeholders to improve intelligence sharing and crime prevention efforts.
Disu further warned officers against acts capable of undermining public confidence in the force, stressing that corruption, extortion, abuse of power and human rights violations would not be tolerated.
He noted that the recently established Violent Crime Response Unit was designed to promote professionalism, accountability and intelligence-driven operations within the force.
Earlier, the Commissioner of Police in Kano State, Ibrahim Bakori, highlighted the command’s achievements in tackling crime across the state.
According to him, no fewer than 1,357 suspects were arrested and prosecuted between January and June 2026 for offences ranging from armed robbery and kidnapping to thuggery, drug-related crimes, motor vehicle theft and other criminal activities.
Bakori attributed the successes to intelligence-led investigations, proactive policing operations, the establishment of the Violent Crime Response Unit and the implementation of Operation Kukan Kura, a community-based crime-fighting initiative.
Despite the gains, the police commissioner identified several emerging threats, including the infiltration of bandits through border communities in Tudun Wada and Kiru Local Government Areas, recurring communal clashes in Makoda and Minjibir LGAs, and persistent drug trafficking and gang-related activities within Kano metropolis.
He disclosed that the command had intensified border patrols, stakeholder engagements and clearance operations targeting criminal hideouts while strengthening collaboration with government agencies, traditional institutions and community leaders.
Bakori reaffirmed the commitment of officers and men of the command to implementing the Inspector-General’s vision of intelligence-driven and community-oriented policing.
He said the command would continue to deploy all lawful means to protect lives, property and businesses across the state’s 44 local government areas.
The strategic lecture forms part of ongoing efforts by the Nigeria Police Force to reposition its operations, enhance public confidence and strengthen internal security through proactive, intelligence-based policing.
