Kano, which is known as a centre of commerce, industry and hospitality, is gradually turning into a hub of crimes carried out by some disgruntled elements in the society.
There are increasingly reported cases of burglary, thuggery, phone snatching, vehicle and motorcycle thefts, drug abuse, neighbourhood gangs’ rivalry clashes and even murders among others.
It is only God that knows the actual victims of these cruel acts because it is not all cases that are reported, except perhaps a few. Some victims prefer to leave the matter to God to judge in the hereafter.
Indeed, 90 per cent of those committing these various forms of crimes and atrocities are living within the community. Some experts on socio-economic security and public administration attribute the persistent increase in crimes in Kano metropolis to the deterioration of social, economic and political culture, which requires detailed discussion before a permanent solution is found.
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However, we must not allow the situation to escalate beyond control. Law enforcement agents, particularly the police and sister security agencies including vigilante groups, are doing their very best to checkmate the activities of these miscreants. But their efforts need to be supported by all and sundry.
This is more apparent when we look at the wide gap that exists in the population/police ratio and the inadequacy of equipment for proper policing in the state. Out of the 44 LGAs of Kano State eight of them – Dala, Municipal, Gwale, Fagge, Kumbotso, Nassarawa, Ungogo and Tarauni – are the epicentres, coincidently majority of the population lives in these areas.
In the last three months, some residents within these areas were forced to take the law into their own hands by engaging the miscreants whenever they struck in order to protect themselves and their properties which often resulted in causalities.
Similarly, a day before the Babbar Sallah (Eid-el-Kabir), youths in large numbers stormed a religious gathering along Gwammaja Kofar Mazugal Road, attacked passers-by and robbed them of their phones, money and other valuables.
Innocent motorists were also not left out as the gang sustained the attack for close to an hour. It took the intervention of the police before normalcy returned to the location. The same incidents happened in so many areas according to witness reports.
Therefore, I am appealing to the Kano State governor, His Excellency Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf to, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, come up with a workable, comprehensive and sustainable solution to this menace.
The stakeholders should also solicit support from individuals, organisations etc. for our police and other regular and voluntary security operatives for effective policing.
The resuscitation of sporting facilities and entrepreneurship centres in the state will also help in attracting a large number of our youths to skill acquisition and development ventures as well as sporting activities that can keep them busy.
I believe if these pieces of advice are given consideration, the surge in crimes in Kano will be drastically reduced if not completely tamed.
Abubakar Sani wrote from Gwammaja Qtrs Kano [email protected]
