Kano civil society groups warn of rising political thuggery

The Kano Civil Society Alliance for Peaceful Politics has condemned the rising wave of political thuggery in the state, warning that violence linked to Yan Daba groups is threatening democratic stability ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Members of the group, who converged at Bayero University Kano on Tuesday, listed 10 deadly attacks recorded between January and May 2026, including the killing of 10 people during clashes on State Road and the death of five persons on May 5.

The group also cited the killing of a police officer in Hotoro Division and repeated clashes in Dorayi, Koki, Abattoir Market and Rimin Kebe, calling on the Kano State Government to immediately suspend all political rallies until a comprehensive security framework is put in place.

The group described Kano as a state of over 18 million people, with nearly eight million youths and an economy worth almost $20 billion. It said the state, which has remained insulated from banditry and insurgency, is now confronting an “inbuilt existential challenge” driven by politicians who allegedly arm, fund and deploy thugs during electioneering across party lines.

Muhammad Auwal, who spoke on behalf of the group, said that despite a 2025 government amnesty programme that rehabilitated over 1,300 repentant thugs, the menace had persisted.

He noted that clashes between rival gangs had become more frequent, with armed thugs chasing and killing victims while chanting party slogans. He added that many of the killings remained unreported and under-documented.

The group commended Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s “bold and ambitious vision” under the Kano First Agenda, but said more needed to be done.

“No blood of a single Kano indigene is worth the ambition of any political actor or interest,” the statement read. “His Excellency should walk the talk.”

Beyond the loss of lives, the group listed major impacts of the conflict to include the destruction of property worth N11 billion, the collapse of law and order in some neighbourhoods, and the erosion of democratic values. It said Yan Daba groups now control parts of some communities, intimidating citizens through phone snatching, assault and armed robbery.

To address the crisis, the group made six key demands. These include “the immediate cessation of political rallies, an independent investigation into recent killings including those during the deputy governor’s swearing-in, and targeted rehabilitation and job creation for unemployed youths who are often recruited into thuggery.”

The group also called for strengthened law enforcement in hotspots such as Hotoro, Unguwa Uku, Dorayi, Koki and Abattoir, as well as disarmament campaigns.

The group made a passionate appeal to INEC, the international community and security operatives to intervene, saying, “Whatever affects Kano affects Northern Nigeria and the entire country.”

The group further proposed the establishment of a multi-stakeholder peace committee comprising civil society organisations, religious leaders, community elders and political parties to monitor peace during the election season.