A police officer attached to Hotoro Division, identified as Sani S.O, was killed during a clash between rival thugs in Kano, just a few months to his retirement.

He was reported to have been killed alongside four others during the clash last weekend in Hotoro area of Nasarawa Local Government Area. This comes at a time when two people were also reported killed during a similar clash between thugs in Fagge and the neighbouring Kano Abattoir market.

Similarly, on Wednesday, thugs reportedly killed the head of hunters of Tofa Local Government Area of the state, Kaura Mamiyo, during a political event affirming one a member of the State Assembly. He was reportedly killed by the thugs using sticks, after they tried using knives and machetes but failed.

A source close to the deceased officer told Weekend Trust that he was deployed alongside colleagues to disperse the fighting groups when he was shot by one of the thugs using a Dane gun.

“He was working at the Hotoro Division and was deployed with others to disperse the thugs. Unknown to him, one of them had a Dane gun with which they shot him. He was rushed to the hospital where he was confirmed dead,” the source, who pleaded anonymity, said.

The source described the late officer as a popular personality in his community who had served for over thirty years.

“He was a good person who contributed to society, especially his immediate environment. It was just a few weeks to his retirement before he was killed,” the source added.

Another resident of the area, Balarabe Ibrahim, said just a few days before the officer’s death, he donated fans and other items needed in the community’s mosque.

“He was a good man and never knew he was going to breathe his last so soon when he donated these items to our mosque,” Ibrahim added.

Four more killed

Speaking to Weekend Trust, a resident who identified himself as Abubakar said at least four other people were killed alongside the police officer during the clash.

He noted that the clash was between two warring thuggery groups in Tsallaken Maradi and Ramin Kwalabe, both in Hotoro quarters.

While acknowledging that this was not the first time the groups clashed, he, however, noted that it had never been this bloody.

Like Hotoro, like Fagge

Fagge quarters and Kano Abattoir market also witnessed clashes amongst thugs that made headlines in the city in less than a week.

What was said to have started as a mere disagreement over money eventually deteriorated quickly into violent attacks and counter-attacks, leading to the killing of two people in the area.

The Ward Head of Fagge B, Nura Ubale, said the fight started between two people, Musa and Audu Mahaukaci, both residents of Fagge.

He explained; “Audu Mahaukaci accused Musa of taking his money. Later, Mahaukaci was accused of killing Musa. In the process, some people suspected to be Musa’s friend killed Mahaukaci.

“It wasn’t really a fight between the area and the marketers. Both deceased are residents of Fagge, but Musa was doing his business in the abattoir market. His friends there were suspected to have masterminded the killing, which is why people reported that Abattoir traders were fighting Fagge people.”

He added that prior to this, there had never been a fight between the two areas, stressing that contrary to reports, only two people were killed.

Ubale said leaders of the relevant areas had already sat down with the police and the Anti-Daba Squad to address the matter.

“Even yesterday, the Fagge leaders and the market leaders met to iron out issues. We had the meeting until 1am. We are also meeting again, even though normalcy has since been restored,” he said.

He noted that the two areas have a good relationship, pointing out that even the head of butchers in the state is an indigene of Fagge.

Also, a trader in the abattoir market, Haruna Salisu, said the recent clashes disrupted their activities and made traders apprehensive.

He, however, said things have normalised after government and police interventions.

“People have a stereotype about our market that because we use weapons to slaughter and skin animals, there are a lot of thugs among us, which is not true. Anybody could just enter the market and camouflage among us to perpetrate crime. We just pray similar things won’t happen again,” Salisu added.

What we’re doing to tackle problem – Police

Efforts to get police reaction were unsuccessful as the state police spokesperson, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, didn’t respond to calls and text messages as at the time of filing this report.

But the state Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, said the Command had launched the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) to tackle violent crimes with speed and professionalism. He explained that the unit, established in April 2026 on the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, is designed to respond faster to distress calls, prevent and control violent crimes, and ensure effective investigation and prosecution of offenders.

The Commissioner noted that the VCRU is made up of carefully selected and specially trained officers, equipped to operate with discipline, integrity, and respect for human rights.

He assured residents that the Command under his leadership takes full responsibility for the conduct of the unit, stressing that its operations will be intelligence-led and community-based, with strong civilian oversight to build public trust.

We’re determined to rehabilitate thugs – Kano govt

The state government has said that it’s committed to rehabilitating thugs to becoming better people in society and not just eradicating them.

Speaking in a recent interview with some local radio stations, the state Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, said the state has initiated a program titled “Operation Safe Corridor”.

He said, “The programme is about rehabilitating these thugs. Our target is to rehabilitate 3,000 people and we have already enrolled the first batch of 1,000.

“It’s part of the non-kinetic strategies of fighting crime in the society which this government is committed to. The kinetic approach is also working there. That is why the state also initiated the Neighbourhood Watch Security outfit to complement the efforts of other security agencies,” the commissioner added.

Rise in Kano thuggery collective societal failure – Retired DCP

A security expert and retired Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP Yahaya Hashim, has attributed the recent surge in thuggery in the state to long-standing politicisation of the menace and collective failure of the society.

Hashim described the situation as unfortunate, noting that the problem could have been addressed when it was still small.

He said politicians have continued to benefit from the activities of thugs, hiring them for rallies and rewarding them instead of punishing them. “A governor or even president will be welcomed by these arms-wielding thugs,” he said.

The security expert also blamed parents and society for failing to tackle the issue at the family level.

He stressed that the best way forward is to “go back to the drawing board,” urging parents to review their children’s upbringing, the government to enact stronger laws against thuggery, and politicians to distance themselves from such groups.

He recalled that at one time, a sitting governor even appointed a Special Adviser on thugs’ matters, which he described as a dangerous precedent.

Hashim further noted that communities must also take responsibility, as thugs are well known in their localities.

“Even that particular area where a police officer was killed is very notorious for thuggery. In fact, people from other parts of Kano even go there to rent thugs to other places,” he said.

Crisis rise as election nears

Kano has in recent weeks witnessed a resurgence of thugs’ clashes in various parts of the city, including areas previously less known for such violence. The spike comes as the country prepares for the 2027 general elections.

Some of the areas recently hit by thuggery include Fagge, Abattoir market, Koki, Kurnar Asabe, Hotoro, and Gyadi-Gyadi quarters, among others.

Two weeks earlier, at least three people were reported killed in politically related thuggery on the day of the swearing-in of the new Deputy Governor in the state.

A week earlier, thugs suspected to be attending a political rally nearby reportedly attacked the Farm Center GSM market, dispossessing traders, customers and even passers-by of their belongings. (Weekend Trust)