Residents of Kawo in Nasarawa Local Government Area of Kano State have expressed concern over renewed clashes involving suspected gangs, popularly known as Yan Daba, as violence in the area entered its third consecutive day on Tuesday.

The unrest, which residents say has disrupted daily activities and created fear among traders and commuters, is part of what many have described as a gradual resurgence of gang-related violence in Kano.

A resident, Muhammad, said the repeated clashes have affected businesses in the area, with many shop owners worried about the safety of their goods.

He told DAILY POST: “They have not started entering houses yet, but they scare away traders and loot them, from what I have heard.”

According to residents, the latest crisis began about three weeks ago following a dispute involving commercial tricycle operators from different sections of Kawo.

Residents recount how the violence started

A mother identified as Maman Mama told DAILY POST that the trouble started when a group of tricycle riders allegedly blocked a major road in the community.

“It began three weeks ago. NAPEP riders from Kawon Lambu, who are heavy smokers of Indian hemp, barricaded Kawo Road around 6:50 a.m., preventing riders from Kawon Majalissa from passing through,” she said.

She alleged that the group displayed dangerous weapons and threatened anyone who attempted to use the road.

“A Keke rider from Majalissa was injured and his tricycle was damaged. Police were alerted and arrived after 9 a.m. Since then, riders from Kawon Majalissa have been coming to Kawon Lambu to retaliate,” she added.

Another resident, popularly known as Barrister, said the incident caused major traffic congestion and panic among road users.

“They only caused a hold-up. The road was filled with motorists and passers-by, creating fear among people,” he said, adding that the attackers did not specifically target other road users.

A woman who requested anonymity described the situation as worrying.

“You have not seen anything in this area. May God help us raise our children well,” she said.

Activist blames drug abuse, urges leaders to act

Speaking to DAILY POST, social commentator and activist Comrade Sagiru Usman Yarima expressed concern over the high level of drug abuse among young people in Kano.

Yarima, who is the chairperson of the Centre for Thuggery and Violence Awareness in Kano, condemned the growing trend of violence linked to political interests and criminal gangs, urging residents not to remain silent while lives and property are threatened.

According to him, “Ninety percent of thuggery has returned to Kano, especially because of the upcoming elections. It has been growing since 2015.

“Let’s take areas like Ƙulƙul, Dala, Hotoro, Kurna, Abbatore and Fagge Local Government Area, for example; these are hotspots.

“The painful thing is that some of the thugs have started using traditional guns called Baushe,” he said.

Yarima also called on political leaders, traditional rulers and religious leaders to take stronger action against insecurity and youth involvement in violence.

He urged voters to reject politicians who use youths for violent activities and warned that continued silence could worsen the situation.

Police response

In an earlier discussion with journalists, the Kano State Police Command said many of the recent clashes involved rival groups operating within the same communities.

The command assured residents that security agencies were monitoring the situation and working to eliminate all forms of unrest across the state.

It said efforts were ongoing to prevent further violence and restore normalcy in affected areas.

Recall that two weeks ago, the Kano State Police Command unveiled a new operational office for the newly established Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU).

According to CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, “The VCRU is not a unit for every officer. We have carefully vetted, selected and deployed trained, professional, committed, dedicated and result-oriented police officers to form this unit,” he stated.

“Each officer has undergone rigorous screening and mandatory training in tactical response, human rights, professional conduct and intelligence handling, in line with global best practices. Discipline, integrity and respect for human rights will remain the guiding principles of every VCRU operation,” he added.

With all these preparations, the people of Kano still live in constant fear and, according to some of those who spoke to DAILY POST, that fear grows with each passing day.

As of press time, the casualty figure from the clashes had not been confirmed.

A Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja has sentenced a man, Abdulrahman Lawal Raji, to 15 years imprisonment for defrauding a buyer of N26 million under the guise of supplying a Toyota Hilux vehicle.

Justice Ismail Ijelu delivered the judgment on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, after finding Raji guilty of obtaining money by false pretence.

A statement by EFCC said the convict was arraigned by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on November 9, 2023, on an amended two-count charge.

According to the anti-graft agency, Raji collected N26 million from a petitioner, Olaide Ibidapo, for the purchase of a 2022 Toyota Hilux but failed to deliver the vehicle or refund the money.

One of the charges against him read:

“ABDULRAHMAN LAWAL RAJI and ABDULRAHMAN LAWAL (at large), between 20th March, 2023 and 21 March, 2023 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, obtained a gross sum of N26,000,000 from Olaide Ibidapo by falsely representing it was the purchase price for a Toyota Hilux 2022 car, which representation you knew to be false”.

Raji pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him.

During the trial, prosecution counsel, Ebuka Okongwu, presented four witnesses and tendered several documents which were admitted as exhibits by the court.

The defence, however, called two witnesses in its case.

Delivering judgment, Justice Ijelu held that the prosecution had successfully established its case beyond reasonable doubt and consequently found the defendant guilty as charged.

The court sentenced Raji to 10 years imprisonment on count one and five years imprisonment on count two, without the option of a fine on either count.

The judge ordered that both sentences should run concurrently.

Justice Ijelu also directed the convict to restitute the sum of N26 million to the petitioner.

Raji’s conviction started from his failure to fulfil an agreement to supply a 2022 Toyota Hilux vehicle after receiving payment from the buyer. Investigations revealed that he neither delivered the vehicle nor returned the money paid for the transaction.

Oyo State Police Command has revealed that it has arrested no fewer than three suspects in connection with various criminal activities in the state.

The Public Relations Officer of the command, Olayinka Ayanlade, made this known in a statement.

The statement was made available to DAILY POST on Tuesday.

Ayanlade explained that the command also recovered some items as exhibits.

He said the command recovered items such as firearms and vandalised cables from the suspects.

Ayanlade noted that the suspects were arrested in Oyo town following a report received by police officers at Durbar Division.

The suspects, according to Ayanlade, are Suhaib Abdulwahab, Kabiril Mustapha, and Abdullah Abdullah.

Ayanlade added that the suspects are currently in police custody.

He said: “Acting on the information, police operatives from Durbar Division promptly proceeded to the location, where the owner of the scrap shop, one Suhaib Abdulwahab, aged 30, of Akunlemu Area, Oyo, was arrested.

“Further investigation and the arrest of the scrap shop owner led to the apprehension of two additional suspects identified as Kabiril Mustapha and Abdullah Abdullah, aged 25, both of Akunlemu Area, Oyo, who are believed to be connected to the crimes.”