IGP sends strong message of courage to Kano police Command

By Maduabuchi Nmeribeh/Kano

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has sent a strong measage of courage to men and officers of Kano state Police Command, encouraging them to keep taking the battle straight to the criminals with bold actions, determination, dedication and resilience.

IGP Disu passed his message on Wednesday, through the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police in charge of Department of Finance and Administration, Force Headquarters, DIG. Sulaiman M. Abdul, who doubles as the Supervising DIG, North-West Zone.

DIG Abdul was at the Command to engage men and officers with a lecture themed: “Asymmetric Threat Preemption, Urban Gang Management, and Securing Commercial Hubs.”

Before delivering his lecture, DIG Abdul passed the IGP’s message to men and officers of the Command, encouraging them to stay on the offensive than to remain only reactive.

IGP’s message reads: “Good morning dear officers, I am proud of your outstanding performance this week! You have taken the battle straight to the criminals with bold actions, recording major successes through arrests and the neutralization of bandits and their kingpins.

“The people are noticing our courage. Well done! It is far better to strike first and stay on the offensive than to remain only reactive.

“When bandits know we fire back decisively, they will think twice. Keep pushing hard, stay sharp, and sustain this momentum. You are the pride of the force. Thank you for your dedication and bravery.”

According to DIG Abdul, inspired by the dedication of men and officers of Kano Command, the IGP has established six core administrative pillars that form the unyielding foundation of modern internal security blueprint:

He named the pillars to include Intelligence-led and rechnology-driven policing, which moved away from purely conventional, reactive methods to proactive, evidence-based law enforcement powered by data analytics, digital forensics, and centralized information frameworks, such as the Nigeria Police Force Crime and Incident Database (NPF-ICD).

He also mentioned strict accountability and human rights compliance, which guaranttees implementation of a zero-tolerance policy for professional misconduct, extra-judicial actions, corruption, and impunity.

Re-engineering internal oversight mechanisms like the Police Complaints Response Unit (CRU) and enforcing the standard that authority must be exercised with restraint and constitutional respect.

DIG Abdul described the third pillar as community policing and public trust, which is revitalizing public partnerships by institutionalizing town engagements and making command leadership accessible hall to earn the actionable community intelligence necessary to preempt crime.

According to him, the fouth pillar is inter-agency collaboration and regional synergy, designed to dismantle institutional silos to achieve seamless, real-time intelligence sharing with the Military, DSS, and sister agencies.

He said the fouth pillar also includes breaking administrative boundaries through operational frameworks like “Handshake Patrols” between contiguous states to deny criminals jurisdictional escape routes.

DIG Abdul described the fifth pillar as operational standardization and specialization, geared towards restructuring elite capacities into units governed by strict rules of engagement and civilian oversight, notably evidenced by the remodelling of state-level anti-crime units into the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU).

The Police Chief identified the sixth pillar as personnel welfare and capacity building, which is modernizing the training curricula and prioritizing systemic officer welfare (housing, health, and mental health support) to directly drive field performance.

DIG Abdul noted that Kano’s security and stability directly impact the economic heartbeat of the entire West African sub-region.

According to him, Kano’s security challenges are distinctly shaped by its high population density, rapid urbanization, and vast commercial transactions.

He reminded the men and officers of Kano Police Command that: “Your primary mandate is to neutralize urban criminal syndicates – specifically violent youth gangs (Yan Daba) prevent cyber-enabled financial fraud, and ensure that transnational or insurgent criminal elements do not exploit the state’s sprawling commercial networks as a logistical or hiding base.”

According to him: “The IGP’s administration policy thrust dictates that modern urban policing cannot be achieved through physical presence alone; it must be powered by timely, accurate, and actionable information.

“The Kano Command must fully leverage data analytics, digital forensics, and centralized information frameworks to map out urban crime hotspots and track illicit financial flows that sustain gang activities.

“Compliance with the Suspects’ Information Capturing Process within the Nigeria Police Force Incidents and Crime Database (NPF-ICD) must be enforced across all divisions and tactical offices without exception. This will enable you to build comprehensive criminal histories, trace syndicates, and systematically isolate repeat offenders.

“Concurrently, you must strictly enforce the national directive against unregistered or concealed vehicle number plates, which criminal elements use to maintain anonymity during urban operations. Because urban security relies heavily on public cooperation, your town hall engagements with market associations, youth organizations, religious bodies, and traditional institutions must be institutionalized on a monthly basis.”

In his welcome address, Kano state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, expressed gratitude to IGP Disu for providing everything the Command needs to operate without hitches.

Mr. Bakori noted that since January 1, 2026, “as a result of our sustained campaign against violent crimes such as Armed Robbery, kidnapping, thuggery – Daba, drug abuse, motor vehicle theft, and other vices, the Command has recorded significant successes.

“A total of 1357 suspects have been arrested and prosecuted for these major crimes. This achievement reflects the dedication and professionalism of the officers and men under this Command.”

On the emerging threats and mitigation measures, Mr. Bakori said: “While we remain resolute, our crime-mapping and intelligence analysis have identified emerging threats, including: infiltration of bandits along the Katsina-Kano borders – Shanono, Tsanyawa, and Rogo Local Government Areas; infiltration along the Kaduna-Kano borders – Tudun Wada and Kiru Local Government Areas; recurring farmers-herders clashes in Makoda and Minjibir Local Goveenment Areas; and remnants of thuggery, drug trafficking, and abuse within Kano metropolis.”

He further stated that: “To mitigate these, the Command has intensified joint border operations, sustained stakeholder engagements including town hall meetings in affected Local Goveenment Areas, and periodic clearance operations at black spots and criminal hideouts.

“We continue to work closely with the state government, traditional rulers, and community leaders to consolidate peace and security.”