The Kano State Government has intensified pressure on security agencies to detain and investigate former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje over comments it considers inflammatory and harmful to public safety. The call followed the 34th meeting of the State Executive Council, where members reviewed Ganduje’s recent statements alongside those of Deputy Senate President Barau I. Jibrin.
During the meeting at the Government House, the Council examined both leaders’ claims that banditry had grown in Kano and that the state needed a new religious police force, which they described as “Khairul Nas.” Council members argued that these remarks stirred fear within communities and created a false impression that the current administration had lost control of the state’s security architecture.
After the meeting, the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, briefed reporters. He stated that the comments directly threatened ongoing operations by federal and state security formations. According to him, the tone and timing of the remarks looked deliberate, especially since suspected bandits reportedly moved into border areas only two days after the statements circulated.
Waiya emphasized that no political figure has the authority to assemble a militia or recruit citizens into any parallel security structure. He said the government will not tolerate attempts to provoke unrest or undermine established institutions. He reaffirmed Kano’s partnership with security agencies and noted that their cooperation has helped maintain peace across the state.
The government also urged prominent political actors to show restraint and avoid divisive rhetoric. It insisted that leaders must strengthen unity rather than inflame tensions for personal or political advantage.
Ganduje responded swiftly to the accusations. Through a statement issued by his media aide, he dismissed the arrest demand as desperate and baseless. He accused the Abba Kabir Yusuf administration of diverting attention from real security issues. Ganduje insisted that he had never supported violence and cited the strategies he adopted while in office, including community policing, expanded intelligence networks, and close collaboration with federal forces. He argued that these measures helped protect Kano during a period when many northern states struggled with widespread insecurity.
As the disagreement deepens, residents continue to watch both sides closely, hoping the tension does not escalate into a larger political standoff.