Metro
Fear in Kano as suspected Yan Daba clashes enter third day
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.
Lagos State Police Command has arrested four suspected cultists and alleged contract killers believed to be connected to a series of violent crimes in Ajanmgbadi, Ojo and neighbouring communities.
The command disclosed the arrests in a statement posted on its official X handle on Tuesday.
The suspects were identified as Emmanuel Nwokolo, popularly known as “Oblo,” 35; Ayola Israel, also known as “Essy Pawpaw,” 39; Ebuka Nnamdi, 31; and Chinedu Okafor, 22.
According to the police, the suspects were apprehended during an intelligence-led operation at a hotel in the Ajanmgbadi area of Ojo Local Government Area.
The command said preliminary investigations uncovered evidence linking the suspects to several violent crimes within the area.
Police further revealed that a video allegedly showing the killing of unidentified individuals in Ajanmgbadi and surrounding communities was recovered from the mobile phone of one of the suspects.
During interrogation, the suspects reportedly confessed to being members of the Aiye Confraternity and admitted involvement in a series of attacks and killings that had unsettled residents in the affected communities.
The statement added that a subsequent search operation led to the recovery of two locally made pistols, one revolver and 13 live cartridges believed to be connected to their criminal activities.
According to the command, investigations are continuing to determine the full scope of the suspects’ operations, identify other members of the criminal network and apprehend additional accomplices still at large.
The police said the suspects would be charged in court upon the completion of investigations.
Commending the operatives involved in the operation, the Commissioner of Police reaffirmed the command’s commitment to combating crime and ensuring the safety of residents across the state.
He assured Lagosians that efforts would continue to dismantle criminal groups and bring perpetrators of violent crimes to justice.
The commissioner also urged members of the public to remain vigilant and support law enforcement agencies by providing timely and credible information that could aid crime-fighting efforts.
Seventeen suspected male cultists aged between 18 and 28 years have been arrested by the Abia State Police Command.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, DSP Maureen Chinaka made this known in a press release on Tuesday night.
She said that some of the suspected cultists were arrested at their various meeting points, while the others were nabbed on their way to perpetrate crimes.
According to the Abia State Police Command, items recovered from the suspects include: five short guns, three live ammunition, thirteen mobile phones of different makes, two cutlasses, one axe and one black barete.
The Command said that the arrest of the suspects followed the recent upsurge in cult-related activities in the State, including the attack on 13/05/2026 at No. 29 Brass Road, Aba, where a young man was shot and macheted to death by a group of suspected cultists.
The Command also recalled that another young man was shot by suspected cultists on 24/05/2026 at Ehere, near Opobo jppunction in Aba.
“The Abia State Police Command, leveraging on actionable intelligence, took the fight to the criminals. Operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit ,VCRU, successfully apprehended seventeen (17) suspected cultists linked to the aforementioned incidents in Aba, Abia State”, she stated.
The Police said that the suspects are being charged to the Court as investigation has been concluded on the matter,
It further assured that the Abia State Police Command under the watch of Commissioner of Police, CP Danlandi Isa would ensure that there is no hiding place for cultists and other criminal activities in Abia.
Sokoto State Police Command has arrested a suspected drug dealer and recovered a large quantity of suspected hard drugs during an operation in the state.
The Command also foiled a bandit attack and recovered rustled livestock in separate security operations.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Rufai, said the drug suspect was arrested on May 27 during a stop-and-search operation along the Kebbi-Sokoto Road by operatives attached to the Bado Division.
According to the statement, the suspect, identified as Ummaru Abubakar Gugare, was intercepted while riding an unregistered motorcycle alongside another suspect who escaped during the operation.
Police said a search conducted on the suspects led to the recovery of a sack containing substances suspected to be Indian hemp, as well as quantities of Axzol, Benthexol and D5 tablets classified as controlled drugs.
The recovered exhibits were taken into police custody, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspect.
In a separate operation on May 30, operatives of the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit foiled a bandit attack on Zabori, Tambaranga and Gidan Yero villages in Wamakko Local Government Area.
The operation followed a distress call reporting the invasion of the communities by armed bandits.
Police said the operatives blocked the suspects’ escape route around Abdalo Forest in Gwadabawa Local Government Area, leading to an exchange of gunfire.
According to the statement, the bandits fled into the forest after being overpowered by security operatives, with some reportedly sustaining gunshot wounds.
One suspect, identified as Musa Usman of Damba Village in Illela Local Government Area, was arrested during the operation.
The police also recovered 11 cows and five sheep believed to have been rustled by the suspects.
The livestock have been taken into custody pending identification and return to their owners.
The command said investigations into both cases were ongoing, while efforts had been intensified to apprehend other suspects linked to the crimes.
Ederson Could Get Rare Man Utd Squad Number With ‘Dream’ Choice Unavailable
Police arrest four suspected cultists, hitmen in Lagos
Osun guber: REC urges media to combat election misinformation
Simi Sanya and Femi Dapson Are Now Legally Married and It Is Beautiful to See
FCT Area Council Election: Live results from polling units
Premier League Set-Piece Goals (2025/2026)
-
Sports1 day agoJohn Terry Sends Message to Gabriel After Champions League Final
-
Politics21 hours ago2027: Jonathan not power-hungry – Former aide
-
Metro1 day agoPolice debunk bandit invasion rumours in Lagos, arrest 15
-
Sports23 hours agoEverton Lead Race to Sign Midfielder Hayden Hackney: David Ornstein
-
Sports2 days agoRafael Nadal’s Top 10 Male Athletes in Sport History
-
Sports20 hours agoCeltic Agree to Terminate Stephen Welsh’s Contract Early
-
Entertainment1 day agoSerena Williams Is Coming Back to Tennis, and the Sports World Can’t Stop Talking About It
-
Business1 day agoStock market dips 1.13% as investors lose N1.81trn