The Kano State Police Command has arrested 248 suspects and rescued three kidnap victims during a month-long security crackdown across the state.

The breakthrough was announced by the State Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, during a press briefing at the Bompai Police Headquarters.

The sweep, which spanned from April 20 to May 20, 2026, was launched to curb a noticeable rise in social crimes, local thuggery, and violent public disturbances within specific metropolitan hubs, including Fagge, IBB Road, and Hotoro quarters.

A major highlight of the security operation was the massive recovery of lethal locally crafted weapons and illicit substances, indicating a heavy clampdown on urban gang structures. Among the items seized by the police are:

* 232 cutlasses and 374 sharp knives
* 13 axes, 58 scissors, and 37 local clubs (popularly known as “gora”)
* Two bows and 23 arrows
* A cache of firearms, including one pistol, five locally fabricated revolver guns, and a Dane gun
* 923 parcels and 631 wraps of suspected cannabis sativa, alongside cartons of addictive psychotropic substances like rubber solution, Exol, and Diazepam tablets

Providing a precise breakdown of those taken into custody, CP Bakori stated that the joint security forces arrested 149 individuals directly linked to violent public disturbances, 32 suspected drug dealers, 18 armed robbery suspects, and 5 suspected kidnappers. Additionally, operatives recovered seven motor vehicles, five tricycles, and eight motorcycles stolen by cross-city syndicates.

The state command has attributed these operational gains to the newly established Violent Crime Response Unit and aggressive border patrolling alongside the Kano-Katsina boundary to prevent criminal infiltration. All 248 suspects are currently undergoing detailed profiling and interrogation, with the police command assuring the public that they will face immediate prosecution upon the conclusion of investigations.