How Phone Snatching, Thuggery Cripple Kano Security

By Victor Christopher (@iamvictorcool)

At least five people were killed in June 2025 alone in separate violent incidents linked to phone snatching and thuggery across several neighborhoods in Kano State, including Sheka Quarters, Hotoro, and Gayawa.

The victims were attacked either in broad daylight or during late-night ambushes, sparking widespread fear and raising alarm over the deepening security crisis in the state.

Victims’ Families Recount Their Ordeals

One of the victims, Yazid Haruwa from Sheka Quarters, was brutally stabbed by suspected phone snatchers inside his own room on June 11. His elder brother, Mukhtar Haruna, recounted the horror:

“Around 3am, our father called to say Yazid had been stabbed in the chest. We rushed him to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital. They operated on him, but sadly, he didn’t survive.”

A similar tragedy struck the same community just a day later. Buhari Imam, a lift operator at Northwest University, was murdered in his room.

According to his uncle, Bello Ibrahim: “They broke his door, collected his phone, and stabbed him so badly that his intestines spilled out. He died from the injuries. Government must punish these criminals—they shouldn’t be allowed to live among us.”

Community Fights Back

In response to the attacks, residents of Sheka formed a neighborhood security committee. The head of the committee, Adamu Planner, confirmed that two suspects were arrested and handed over to the police.

“That night alone, three people were stabbed. We worked with the police to arrest two suspects—both of them live here.”

But the violence isn’t limited to Sheka. On May 17, near the Emir’s Palace, phone snatchers killed Alaramma Lawan Abdullahi, a respected Islamic teacher and tech expert, for refusing to surrender his phone.

From Petty Theft to Deadly Turf Wars

Thuggery and inter-gang clashes have also intensified across the state. In Dorayi Quarters, a poultry farmer, Abubakar, was stabbed to death during a gang fight last year. His father told Arewa Radio:

“He sold eggs in his shop. When he saw the thugs, he tried to lock up, but they attacked and stabbed him. He died the next morning in the hospital.”

These turf wars often claim innocent lives and disrupt entire communities.

Government Deploys 1,050 Paramilitary Personnel

To combat the growing insecurity, the Kano State Government recently deployed 1,050 paramilitary operatives to 52 known hotspots. Brigadier General Gambo Ahmed (rtd.), who chairs the state’s Anti-Illicit Drugs and Phone Snatching Committee, said the initiative aims to restore public safety.

“We’ve deployed over 100 vehicles for rapid response. Several arrests have already been made, and more will follow.”

Over 300 Arrested in Six Months

According to the Kano State Police Command, more than 300 suspects were arrested in the past six months across various flashpoints—including Sheka, Hotoro, Kofar Ruwa, Dorayi, and Zango. Most of the suspects were aged between 15 and 27 and were caught with weapons, stolen phones, and drugs.

Police spokesperson SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa assured the public of continued operations:

“The commissioner has directed intensified patrols to crack down on phone snatchers and thugs across Kano.”

Authorities Call for Collective Action

Kano State’s Commissioner for Internal Security and Special Services, AVM Ibrahim Umaru (rtd.), emphasized that the government is taking urgent steps to restore law and order:

“No one should be allowed to kill or harm another citizen and go unpunished. We are committed to ending this violence.”

Despite the interventions, experts say the root causes—youth unemployment, drug abuse, broken homes, and lack of education—must be tackled to achieve lasting peace.

As the death toll rises and communities remain on edge, it is clear that reclaiming Kano’s streets from the grip of violent gangs will require a united front from government, law enforcement, families, and community leaders.