Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State has officially launched the Neighbourhood Watch Corps (NWC), a state-controlled security outfit designed to tackle the escalating surge in banditry and gang-related violence.
Speaking on Tuesday at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Governor Yusuf announced the enrollment of an initial 2,000 personnel into the state’s security structure.
The first batch consists of 1,870 men and 130 women. The governor said all the personnel have undergone specialised training in security tactics and intelligence gathering.
To ensure operational efficiency, the governor commissioned a fleet of 88 Hilux patrol vehicles and 440 motorcycles for the corps to be deployed across all 44 Local Government Areas (LGAs) to complement the efforts of federal security agencies.
Mr Yusuf confirmed that officers would be equipped with the necessary weapons to counter major crimes, particularly the rising banditry in the state’s remote localities.
Kano has recently experienced an upsurge in bandit attacks in LGAs such as Tsanyawa, Gwarzo, Kunchi, Shanono, and Bagwai. Reports indicate that these bandits strike from hideouts in Katsina State—where they reportedly have unofficial “no-attack” agreements—targeting vulnerable, sparsely policed farming communities in Kano.
Highlighting the limitations of the current security framework, Governor Yusuf urged the National Assembly to enact laws permitting the establishment of state police.
He stated that the NWC is a pillar of a broader reform agenda built on community participation and intelligence-driven operations. He charged the new personnel to maintain the highest levels of professionalism.
Kano’s move follows a growing trend among Northwestern states to establish localised security forces to fill gaps left by overstretched federal military and police units.
The Neighbourhood Watch Corps in Kano joins similar outfits such as Katsina’s Community Watch, Zamfara’s Community Protection Guards and Sokoto’s Community Guard Corps. While these outfits are legal under state laws, they currently operate in a legal “grey area” regarding high-calibre weaponry.
Under the Nigerian Constitution, the control of firearms and policing remains an exclusive federal power—a reality that continues to drive the lobby for constitutional amendments.
President Bola Tinubu and many lawmakers have called for the amendment of the Nigerian Constitution to allow states have their own police.
Kano’s unique security threat
Unlike many of its neighbours, Kano faces a two-front security challenge: rural banditry and urban gang violence in the city centres. Residents grapple with the ‘Yan Daba’ gangs traditionaly rooted in local hunting rivalries and political thuggery. Some of rhese groups have evolved into sophisticated criminal networks.
In the urban area, the groups are believed to be primarily responsible for a surge in phone snatching, which has transitioned from petty theft into a lethal epidemic.
Attackers often stab their victims during encounters. They disguise themselves as commercial tricycle operators. Once a passenger enters, the driver diverts to a secluded area to rob them at knifepoint.
The new security initiative is expected to play a crucial role in curbing these urban crimes through increased surveillance and community-level presence.
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