Family instability, declining parental responsibility, youth unemployment, and widespread drug abuse have been identified as key drivers of the rising insecurity across Kano State.
This was revealed during a one-day Stakeholders’ Engagement with 75 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) held at Mambayya House, Kano.
Kano Launches Project Safe Corridor to Address Political Thuggery
The engagement, convened by the Kano State Ministry of Information and Internal Affairs, brought together diverse voices from the civil society space to deliberate on growing concerns around youth restiveness, violent crimes, and the breakdown of social order in the state.
Participants from the 75 CSOs also pointed to religious and cultural decline, weakened community vigilance structures, and lapses in law enforcement as aggravating factors contributing to the surge in street thuggery, phone snatching, and drug-fueled violence.
To tackle these issues, the stakeholders recommended a set of people-centred, practical interventions, including:
• Family and parental reorientation programs to instil moral discipline from the home;
• Revitalisation of drug rehabilitation centres for addiction recovery;
• Establishment of toll-free hotlines for anonymous crime reporting;
• Enhanced intelligence-led security operations;
• Public sensitisation through drama, community media, and influencers;
• Stronger collaboration with religious institutions to restore ethical and moral values.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, emphasised the state government’s commitment to building effective partnerships with CSOs as critical allies in restoring security.
He pointed out that the Safe Corridor initiative is designed to directly confront the root causes of insecurity and youth disillusionment.
“The government believes lasting solutions can only be achieved through inclusive dialogue and collaboration. That is why we convened this engagement with civil society actors who remain closest to the grassroots and understand the real pulse of our communities,”
He added that the initiative aims to address phone snatching, drug abuse, political thuggery, and other crimes undermining peace and social stability in Kano.
Also speaking at the event, the Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alhaji Inuwa Idris Yakasai, highlighted the urgency of the initiative, noting the sharp rise in violent crimes perpetrated by drug-influenced youth.
“These acts are gradually eroding public confidence, discouraging mobility, affecting school attendance, and ultimately threatening the socioeconomic future of our state,”.
He called for a united front, stressing, “We are not here to point accusing fingers, but to collectively chart a proactive and community-driven way forward.”
The Safe Corridor initiative is expected to build on these collective recommendations, strengthening grassroots structures, empowering youth, and reclaiming Kano’s communities from the grip of insecurity.