In a press statement released on November 30, 2025, the CSOs described the escalating insecurity as a “humanitarian and security monster” threatening the peace, economy, and social fabric of the historically stable state.
The League of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Kano State has called for the urgent depoliticization of security in the state, urging the deployment of advanced technology, intelligence-led policing, and cross-party cooperation to tackle the rising wave of banditry and kidnappings.
In a press statement released on November 30, 2025, the CSOs described the escalating insecurity as a “humanitarian and security monster” threatening the peace, economy, and social fabric of the historically stable state.
The statement highlighted the proliferation of kidnappings and community incursions, particularly in the southern and western regions of Kano, including areas bordering Kaduna and Katsina.
The CSOs warned that criminal syndicates have shifted operations into Kano, using dense forests such as Falgore as staging grounds, exposing communities in Tudun Wada, Sumaila, Rogo, and Shanono to a “new corridor of terror.”
They emphasized that this rural expansion of terrorism is compounded by porous borders, small arms proliferation, and the emergence of a lucrative kidnap-for-ransom economy, which has disrupted agriculture, displaced residents, and undermined community resilience.
The League also criticized ongoing political infighting between the NNPP-led administration and the APC opposition.
It said, “Crucially, this visible disunity at the highest levels of governance does not merely inconvenience the state; it creates a dangerous security vacuum, sending an unmistakable signal of fragmentation and internal weakness that sophisticated criminal and terror organizations are quick to exploit.
“When citizens witness their leaders prioritizing personal and party relevance over collective safety, public trust in the state’s protective capacity collapses, thereby starving security agencies of the community intelligence vital for counter-banditry efforts.”
“This relentless cycle of battles, public sabotage rhetoric, and continuous internal friction is a staggering dereliction of collective duty by the political elite, constituting a moral failure that actively drains the state’s capacity to govern,” it added.
The CSOs noted that the visible disunity at the highest levels of governance emboldens criminals and erodes public trust in the state’s protective capacity.
To address the crisis, the CSOs outlined five strategic recommendations.
One, it called for the establishment of a Security Fusion Centre (SFC) to centralize intelligence from the police, Department of State Services (DSS), military, and community vigilantes. The SFC would use geospatial mapping, predictive analytics, and weekly accountability meetings to anticipate crime hotspots and deploy resources effectively.
Two, it called for the implementation of programs targeting low-level perpetrators, offering weapon surrenders in exchange for vocational training, while investing in affected communities to create economic alternatives. The initiative also includes psychosocial rehabilitation for reintegration and trauma recovery.
Third, it called for the deployment of high-endurance surveillance drones over critical zones, including Falgore Forest and key inter-state routes such as the Kano-Kaduna axis.
The initiative also calls for high-resolution CCTV installation in public areas, telecom triangulation under legal oversight, and advanced communication equipment for frontline security personnel to maintain resilient command and control.
It said, “This requires the Strategic Drone Surveillance, deploying low-cost, high-endurance surveillance drones over critical zones, including Falgore Forest and key inter-state routes (e.g., Kano-Kaduna axis), to provide real-time intelligence, map criminal camps, and track movement patterns.
“This air support must be complemented by enhanced ground intelligence through the rapid installation of high-resolution CCTV in critical public areas and leveraging Telecom Triangulation capabilities (under strict legal oversight) with providers to geolocate suspected kidnap-for-ransom (KFR) phones.
“Also, all frontline security personnel must be equipped with Advanced Communication Equipment, such as resilient, encrypted satellite phones or military-grade radios, ensuring command and control cannot be easily jammed or intercepted by criminal elements.”
Four, it called for the establishment of the Kano State Security Offences Court (KS-SOC) to expedite trials for banditry, kidnapping, and terrorism-related cases, supported by laws protecting witnesses, prosecutors, and judges from intimidation, ensuring swift and effective justice.
Five, it called for depoliticization and cross-party security consultation, urging the state governor to convene the Kano State Bi-Partisan Security Council (KS-BSC), comprising representatives from the ruling party, opposition parties, key state commissioners, and heads of security agencies, to coordinate intelligence sharing, resource allocation, and security policy decisions, ensuring that political rivalry does not hinder public safety.
The League of CSOs stressed that the protection of lives and property is the supreme responsibility of leadership, urging Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to adopt global best practices, establish the Security Fusion Centre, and convene the Bi-Partisan Security Council without delay.
The CSOs pledged continued oversight until security is placed at the forefront of Kano State’s governance agenda.
The statement was endorsed by 22 civil society organizations, including the Wuro Development Concerns (WDCN), Centre for Human Rights and Social Advancement (CEFSAN), Youth and Environmental Development Association (YEDA), and the Kano Youth Integrity Forum, among others.
