Intensify fight against criminals in Kano, IG tells police

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, on Wednesday directed officers and men of the Kano State Police Command to intensify offensive operations against criminal elements. Disu noted that proactive policing remains the most effective strategy for tackling insecurity and protecting the state’s economic assets. The IG gave the order 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 at Bompai, Kano on Wednesday. The lecture titled: “Asymmetric Threat Preemption, Urban Gang Management, and Securing Commercial Hubs,” the DIG described Kano as a critical commercial hub whose security has far-reaching implications for economic activities across Northern Nigeria and the wider West African region. The IG appreciated the command’s recent operational achievements, particularly its aggressive campaign against bandits, armed robbers, and other criminal elements. “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. The police hierarchy also unveiled a six-point security strategy aimed at strengthening internal security nationwide. The pillars include intelligence-led and technology-driven policing, strict accountability and respect for human rights, community policing, inter-agency collaboration, operational specialization, and improved personnel welfare. The IG urged officers in Kano to deploy modern crime-fighting tools, including digital forensics, crime data analytics, and the Nigeria Police Force Incident and Crime Database, to identify criminal networks, monitor hotspots, and dismantle organised gangs. Related News School guard nabbed for assaulting 10-year-old girl in Kebbi Police smash criminal networks, arrest six suspects in Ogun Police arrest suspect with 36 stolen phones in Akwa Ibom He further 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 vast commercial environment. The IG emphasised that public trust remains vital to effective policing, calling for regular engagement with market associations, youth groups, traditional rulers and religious leaders to improve intelligence gathering and crime prevention efforts. He warned that corruption, extortion, abuse of power, and human rights viola