Isiyaku Ahmed
The gruesome killing of a mother named Fatima Abubakar and her six children in their home in the Dorayi Chiranchi section of Gwale Local Government Area (LGA) of Kano state on 17 January 2026 has sent shockwaves across the state, reigniting painful conversations about rising insecurity and the underlying factors driving violent crimes.
Adding to the concern is another disturbing case involving the arrest of a 25-year-old man, Ididiong James, who allegedly attacked his mother and was found in possession of an English Beretta pistol loaded with eight rounds of ammunition.
According to a statement issued on 28 January 2026 by the Kano State Police Command spokesperson, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, the suspect was arrested following a distress call received by officers attached to the Panshekara Division.
The statement said the incident occurred at 7:30 p.m. in the Panshekara Quarters in Kumbotso LGA.
Residents who spoke to Stallion Times say these violent crimes are not isolated cases but part of a worrying pattern that has continued to surface in recent months.
Although security agencies, particularly the Nigerian Police Force, have intensified efforts to curb violent crime, many citizens believe deeper structural issues must be addressed to achieve the desired solution.
For Musa Abdullahi, a resident of Maiduguri Road in Tarauni LGA, the persistence of violent crime is closely linked to weak deterrence and delays in the justice system.
“The recent incidents of violence we are witnessing in Kano keep happening because the perpetrators are not made to pay for their crimes instantly,” Abdullahi said.
According to him, justice delayed has effectively become justice denied, both for victims and society.
“People will be deterred when they see that those killing others are given maximum punishment.
“The persons who killed a woman and her six children are still out there waiting to be tried, attending several court sittings that may even take a year before they are sentenced,” he said.
Abdullahi also expressed concern that some suspects eventually regain freedom through prolonged trials or alleged influence.
“Some of these people will eventually come out of jail if they have godfathers or people in power who can secure their release.
“After some years, they will be back in society,” he said.
He argued that strict enforcement of existing laws could serve as a strong deterrent.
“The law says that anyone who kills someone should be sentenced to death. This is not being done, which is why this cycle of violence keeps going on.
“If the courts can do this, people will be deterred,” he added, urging the government to ensure speedy trials for violent crime cases.
Beyond the justice system, many residents point to the widespread availability of hard drugs as a major driver of violence.
Abdullahi Saleh, an artisan living in the Brigade quarters of Nassarawa LGA, said drug abuse has become alarmingly common.
“Hard drugs are easily gotten by people in the state, which is the reason for the increase in violence in Kano,” Saleh told Stallion Times.
He lamented that drug peddlers operate openly in some neighbourhoods without fear of arrest.
“If you walk around some areas today, people selling hard drugs are not being arrested.
“When perpetrators of violence take these drugs, it enables them to commit these acts,” he said.
Saleh also linked delays in prosecuting offenders to the continued rise in crime and called on the government to intensify efforts against drug trafficking and abuse.
“When the government wanted to deal with the issue of phone snatching, it achieved much progress in a short time.
“I believe that if the government wants to end violent crimes in the state, it can achieve progress in good time,” he said.
Another dimension to the security challenge is youth unemployment.
Sa’idu Dawakin Tofa, who spoke along Airport Road by Ahmadiyya junction, said the growing violent crime paints a negative image of Kano and threatens its reputation as a centre of commerce and culture.
“The recent incidents of violent crime, especially among youths, can be linked to unemployment,” he said.
While careful not to justify criminal behaviour, Dawakin Tofa noted that idleness often breeds crime.
“I am not giving a reason for the rise in violent crimes, but the lack of jobs and idleness give rise to this.
“If idle people can be actively engaged, they will not have time to carry out violent crimes such as killing,” he said, urging the government to prioritize job creation and youth engagement programs.
In response to rising violent crime, the Kano State Government officially launched the Safe Corridor Project (also referred to as Operation Safe Corridor) in 2025, aimed at rehabilitating repentant youths, drug users, and low-risk offenders through counselling, vocational training, and reintegration into society.
Beneficiaries are provided with skills acquisition opportunities, psychological support, and moral reorientation to discourage a return to crime.
The initiative is designed to address the root causes of violence by steering at-risk youths away from criminal activities and providing sustainable livelihoods, complementing law enforcement efforts by focusing on prevention and rehabilitation rather than punishment alone.
Meanwhile, police in Kano have reported progress in crime prevention through increased patrols, intelligence-led operations, and community policing initiatives.
The police have repeatedly assured residents of their commitment to arresting perpetrators and bringing them to justice.
However, experts argue that policing alone cannot solve the problem.
They insist that effective collaboration between law enforcement, the judiciary, drug control agencies, society, and social welfare institutions is crucial.
Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG Salisu Fagge (Rtd), is the Executive Chairman of VigiLink, a corporate security outfit in Kano.
He said the security challenge in the state requires more than routine policing.
“Violent crime is rarely caused by one factor.
“When you have delays in the justice system, widespread drug abuse, and high youth unemployment, crime will naturally thrive.”
According to him, while the police are making efforts, other institutions must also play their roles.
“The police can arrest suspects, but if prosecution is slow or punishment is uncertain, the impact is limited.
“We need faster trials, stronger drug control measures, and deliberate youth empowerment programs,” he said.
Fagge also emphasized the importance of community trust in security agencies.
“When communities trust the security agencies and share information, crime detection becomes easier, and prevention becomes more effective,” he added.
As security agencies intensify operations and the state government expands rehabilitation efforts through the Safe Corridor Initiative, many residents believe that justice reforms, drug control, and job creation must also be accelerated.
