Kano Police arrested 244 suspects in August over kidnapping, robbery, drugs and thuggery, recovering firearms, ammunition, vehicles and illicit substances.
The Kano State Police Command has announced the arrest of 244 suspects in connection with different criminal activities recorded across the state in August.
The arrests formed part of the command’s intensified security operations aimed at disrupting criminal networks, preventing violent crimes and improving the safety of residents in communities identified as security flashpoints.
The Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Bakori, disclosed the development on Monday during a press briefing held at the command’s headquarters in Bompai, Kano.
Bakori said the command had maintained pressure on criminal elements through a combination of intelligence gathering, targeted operations and increased police presence in vulnerable locations.
He explained that personnel were deployed for several forms of operations, including raids on suspected criminal hideouts, intelligence-driven arrests, 24-hour patrols and stop-and-search exercises.
The police also worked with other security agencies and community stakeholders to obtain information and respond to emerging threats, according to the commissioner.
Providing details of the arrests, Bakori said the suspects were apprehended for offences ranging from kidnapping and armed robbery to drug-related crimes, vehicle theft and thuggery.
He disclosed that eight suspected kidnappers were arrested during the period under review, while 28 suspects were apprehended in connection with alleged armed robbery.
The command also arrested seven suspected vehicle thieves and 19 people allegedly involved in drug-related activities.
Thuggery accounted for the largest category of arrests, with 117 suspected thugs taken into police custody, while another 65 suspects were arrested over various other major offences.
The commissioner said the arrests were supported by the recovery of suspected illicit substances, firearms, ammunition and vehicles believed to have been used in criminal activities.
According to him, police operatives recovered 17,684 sachets and 614 wraps of suspected illicit drugs during their operations in different parts of the state.
Among the substances recovered were 17,070 sachets and five cartons of Tramadol, a drug frequently abused and illegally circulated in some parts of the country.
The police also recovered 49 sachets, three cartons and 18 packs of Diazepam, as well as 90 sachets of Pregabalin.
Other recoveries included 210 Exol tablets and 614 wraps of suspected Indian hemp, alongside other substances believed to be intoxicants.
Bakori said the recovery of the drugs represented another aspect of the command’s efforts to prevent substances that could fuel criminal activities from circulating within communities.
The police also recorded recoveries in connection with suspected illegal firearms activities.
The commissioner disclosed that three pistols and 65 rounds of live ammunition were recovered from suspected gun-running activities during the month.
He said the recovery of the weapons and ammunition would assist investigators in tracing the networks responsible for their possession and movement.
In addition to the firearms and drugs, the command recovered six motor vehicles, four tricycles and seven motorcycles allegedly linked to criminal syndicates.
Bakori said the continued seizure of such items was important because vehicles and motorcycles were sometimes used by criminal groups to facilitate their operations, including movement around communities and attempts to evade security personnel.
While presenting the security situation across the state, the commissioner said the sustained operations had begun to produce noticeable results.
According to him, major crimes have reduced in some parts of Kano, while residents of several communities have experienced improved security compared with previous periods.
He specifically identified Dala, Kofar Nassarawa, Sheka, Dorayi, Rimin Kebbe and Hotoro as areas where the command had recorded improvements in the security situation.
These areas had previously attracted security concerns, but the commissioner said continued police deployment and operations had helped restore greater calm.
Despite the progress, Bakori acknowledged that some criminal elements were still active in certain locations.
He disclosed that the command had therefore intensified its operations in Bachirawa, Gobirawa and Tudun Fulani.
The objective, he explained, is to identify and dismantle remaining networks of suspected thugs operating in those areas before they can further threaten residents or disrupt public order.
The commissioner stressed that the police would not allow criminal groups to take advantage of improved security in some communities to establish new bases elsewhere.
He urged residents to remain vigilant and assist law enforcement agencies by reporting suspicious movements, individuals and activities within their neighbourhoods.
Bakori appealed particularly for credible and timely information that could enable police operatives to respond before criminal incidents occur.
He assured members of the public that the command would continue to work towards protecting lives and property while maintaining peace throughout Kano State.
The police boss also addressed preparations for the political activities expected ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He said the command had already begun putting appropriate security measures in place to manage the potential challenges associated with political campaigns and other election-related activities.
Political parties, candidates and their supporters, he warned, must conduct themselves responsibly and avoid actions capable of creating tension or threatening public safety.
Bakori specifically cautioned against hate speech, violence and thuggery, warning that the police would take necessary steps against individuals whose actions threaten peace during the political season.
He called on politicians and their supporters to pursue their political ambitions within the limits of the law and avoid using young people or criminal elements to cause violence.
The commissioner further assured residents that the command would sustain its collaboration with relevant security agencies, community leaders and other stakeholders as part of efforts to maintain peace before, during and after the 2027 elections.
He maintained that effective policing would require the cooperation of members of the public, particularly through the provision of reliable information.
The August operational figures, he said, reflected the command’s determination to remain proactive rather than wait for criminal incidents to occur before responding.
With the continued deployment of intelligence-led policing, patrols and targeted raids, the command said it would continue working to disrupt criminal activities and make Kano safer for residents, businesses and visitors.
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