In a bold step to address the rising tide of phone snatching, drug abuse, political thuggery, and related criminal activities across Kano State, the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, has reiterated the commitment of the Kano State Government to building strong partnerships with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) as critical allies in restoring security and social order.
Speaking during a one-day Stakeholders’ Engagement with CSOs held at the Mambayya House, Waiya revealed that the Government has designed a strategic initiative known as the “Safe Corridor,” aimed at confronting the root causes of insecurity and youth restiveness in the state.
“The government believes that lasting solutions can only be achieved through inclusive dialogue and collaboration. That is why we have convened this important engagement with civil society actors who remain closest to the grassroots and understand the real pulse of our communities,” the Commissioner said.
In the course of the robust discussions that followed, participants drawn from over 75 Civil Society Organizations collectively identified a number of pressing root causes behind the growing wave of insecurity that include family instability and the declining role of parental responsibility, a widespread lack of youth empowerment and opportunities, and the scourge of drug addiction. They also cited religious and cultural decline, weakened community vigilance structures, and visible lapses in law enforcement as aggravating factors that demand urgent, holistic attention.
In proposing the way forward, the participants recommended a mix of practical, people-centered interventions. These include parental and family reorientation to rebuild moral discipline from the home, revitalization of rehabilitation centers for victims of substance abuse, and the creation of toll-free hotlines to facilitate anonymous reporting of criminal hideouts. Other suggestions centered on intensifying intelligence-led security operations, enhancing public sensitization through drama, community media, and local influencers, and strengthening collaborations with religious institutions to reinforce moral and ethical values in society.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Internal Affairs, Alhaji Inuwa Idris Yakasai, stated that the meeting comes at a time when Kano is grappling with increased reports of violent crimes, especially phone snatching and street thuggery perpetrated by youth under the influence of drugs and frustration.
“These acts are gradually eroding public confidence, discouraging mobility, affecting school attendance, and ultimately threatening the socioeconomic future of our state,”
Yakasai noted. “We are not here to point accusing fingers, but to collectively chart a proactive and community-driven way forward.”
Signed
Sani Abba Yola
Director Special Duties
Kano State Ministry of Information and Internal Affairs
July 21, 2025
