Kano State Police Command has declared war against thuggery, popularly referred to as Daba, and drug abuse, known as kwaya, among youths in order to reduce crime in the state.
The state Commissioner of Police, Sama’ila Shu’aibu Dikko, stated this during a press briefing to mark his one year anniversary at the command.
The police boss said: “When I assumed duty as the 42nd Commissioner of Police of Kano State on the 19th February, 2021, there were security challenges.
“These included threats of kidnapping and armed robbery along our 17 front-line boundary local government areas, thuggery (Daba) and drug abuse (Kwaya) within eight local government areas of Kano metropolis and reports of domestic violence in 19 local government areas that are neither in the metropolis nor the boundary of the state.
“Having obtained briefs and guides from my predecessor, AIG Habu A. Sani, and after having meeting with my departmental heads and Divisional Police Officers, the state was critically analysed, carefully studied, demographically crime-mapped and under the guidance of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Alkali Baba Usman, and an action plan was designed to effectively police Kano State.
“The following anti-crime strategies were carefully designed and implemented within the period under review;
robust community policy engagements,
sustaining the Operation Puff Adder that is based on rapid response to distress calls, intelligence-led
policing, visibility policing, television, radio and social media public enlightenment programs among others.”
He added: “In line with the directives of the Inspector General of Police, Community Policing engagements were intensified. On arrival, I paid courtesy call on His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kano State, DR Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, OFR (Khadimul Islam), Our Royal fathers, the Emirs of the five Emirate councils and other security agencies in the State.
“I visited Area Commands and Divisions and assessed the level of compliance by Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers on my directives and by extension, the directives of the Inspector General of Police on Community-based Policing.
“With Community Policing initiatives and engagements, the Command was supported by individuals, groups and organisations.
“Some of which include;
i. Number of vehicles donated = 21
ii. Number of vehicles refurbished = 28
iii. Number of buildings renovated = 11
iv. Number of offices furnished with furniture = 8
“The Public Relations Department of the Command continue to perform it’s function. A vibrant Social-Media section was strengthened. Radio, Television and Social Media Programs were conducted weekly to promote policing activities and sensitize members of the public on peace and peaceful coexistence.
“Kano State government under his Excellency, DR Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, OFR made remarkable contributions towards improving community policing on the command’s crime fighting efforts, with expansion of Digital Radio Communications and installation of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) monitoring platforms and logistics.
“He directed Local Government Chairmen through the Honourable Commissioner for Local Governments to buy Vehicles for their respected Divisions, and also directed MD KAROTA for refurbishing of Operational Vehicles of the Command.
“In line with the Inspector General of Police directives, mission and vision on Operation Puff Adder, the Command in continuation of its efforts to rid Kano of all forms of crime and criminality arrested 2,606 suspects for major crimes from 19/02/2021 to 19/02/2022.”
