Cities all over the world experience one kind of criminality or the other, this may not be unconnected with the cosmopolitan nature of those urban cities.
Kano, the center of commerce, with its population ever on the increase, is right now one of the most peaceful states or cities in the Northwest, if one is to measure the issue of banditry, kidnapping and terrorist activities.
But in spite of that, the city is not free from other criminal activities, to the level that a large number of individuals are losing their lives and others hospitalized in different public and private hospitals within the city.
The craze to own or hold expensive cell phones among young people is increasing with a lot of competition, while others are trying to compete on other things, which make them want to get money at all costs.
The city of Kano is well-known for thuggery, but since the period of Commissioner of Police, Alkali known as ‘Singham’ it reduced to the barest minimum, the complement of his successor ‘Bahubbali’ was impressive, too.
But the city for about one year now, is experiencing another surge in insecurity within neighborhoods as groups of youth carrying knives, and in some cases locally made guns are harassing, injuring and even killing many, in their attempt to snatch cell phones or women’s bags.
Right now in the city you can’t make phone calls while walking on the street, as a group of youths can easily attack you. In most cases even if one gives them the phone, they still use the specially-made knives to stab their victims before running away.
This is becoming a daily occurrence, and it is happening not only in one location but in many places within the city.The last time I traveled to Kano, as someone from Abuja and someone who is used to making calls while walking and sometimes even stay and chat or reply messages, my brother and my wife cautioned me against displaying my phone outside. In fact, they said even inside a tricycle (A daidaita Sahu), one is not safe on the phone.
It is indeed a trying moment for the people of Kano, but with the increase in these criminal activities who is to blame? The young people perpetrating this act are within the neighborhood, why is it that those in the area cannot take action against them?
What is the Kano zone A of the Nigerian police doing to end this slow poison that is gradually killing people?
And what is the administration of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje doing concerning this, since he is the chief security officer of the state, and part of his major responsibility is to protect the lives and property of Kano people.
As this goes on I will like to remind people that security is everybody’s business hence the need to help the security forces in ensuring communities are safe. And for the criminals, I reiterate a Hausa saying ‘Dare dubu na barawo, dare daya na mai kaya (thousand days are for the thief and one day for the owner).
Mr Bala is an Abuja-based broadcast journalist
