CSOs Condemn Rising Political Thuggery, Violence Links To Daba In Kano
From Muhammad Kabir, Kano
The Kano Civil Society Alliance for Peaceful Politics has condemned the rising wave of political thuggery in the state, warning that violence linked to Yan Daba groups is threatening democratic stability ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Members of the groups who converged at the Bayero on Tuesday, under the leadership of Ambassador Abdullahi D. Muhammad, who is the Convener, listed 10 deadly attacks recorded between January and May 2026, including the killing of 10 people during clashes on State Road and the death of 5 persons on May 5.
The group also cited the killing of a police officer in Hotoro Division and repeated clashes in Dorayi, Koki, Abattoir Market and Rimin Kebe, calling on the Kano State Government to immediately suspend all political rallies until a comprehensive security framework is put in place.
The Alliance described Kano as a state of over 18 million people with nearly 8 million youths and an economy worth almost $20 billion. It said the state, which has remained insulated from banditry and insurgency, is now confronting an “inbuilt existential challenge” driven by politicians who allegedly arm, fund, and deploy thugs during electioneering across all party lines.
Muhammad Auwal who spoke on behalf of the groups said, despite a 2025 government amnesty that rehabilitated over 1,300 repentant thugs, the menace has persisted.
He noted that clashes between rival gangs have become more frequent, with armed thugs chasing and killing victims while chanting party slogans. It added that many of the killings remain unreported and under-documented.
The coalition commended Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for his “bold and ambitious vision” under the Kano First Agenda, but said more needed to be done. “No blood of a single Kano indigene is worth the ambition of any political actor or interest,” the statement read. “His Excellency should walk the talk.”
Beyond loss of lives, the Alliance listed major impacts of the conflict to include destruction of property worth ₦11 billion, collapse of law and order in some neighborhoods, and the erosion of democratic values. It said Yan Daba now control parts of communities, intimidating citizens through phone snatching, assault, and armed robbery.
To address the crisis, the group made six key demands. These include “the immediate cessation of political rallies, an independent investigation into recent killings including those during the deputy governor’s swearing-in, and targeted rehabilitation and job creation for unemployed youths who are often recruited into thuggery.”
The Alliance also called for strengthened law enforcement in hotspots such as Hotoro, Unguwa Uku, Dorayi, Koki and Abattoir, as well as disarmament campaigns.
The group made a passionate appeal to INEC, the international community and security operatives to intervene. “Whatever affects Kano affects Northern Nigeria and the entire country,” it stated, urging stakeholders to prioritize peace over politics.
The group further proposed the establishment of a multi-stakeholder peace committee comprising civil society, religious leaders, community elders and political parties to monitor peace during the election season.
