Kano Task Force Arrests Suspected Gang Leader in Port Harcourt Over Deadly Clashes

The Kano State Multi-Agency Task Force on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking has arrested a suspected gang leader in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, over allegations of sponsoring violent gang clashes that reportedly claimed several lives in Kano.

The suspect, identified as Ishaq Lawan Ibrahim, popularly known as Malam Keya, is 27 years old and hails from Yelwa in Dala Local Government Area of Kano State.

The task force said Ibrahim was arrested on Thursday, October 29, 2026, following an intelligence-led operation in Port Harcourt. He has since been returned to Kano for further investigation and possible prosecution.

The chairman of the task force, Muhuyi Magaji Rimin Gado, confirmed the arrest, alleging that the suspect played a leading role in financing and coordinating violent activities linked to rival gangs in parts of Kano.

According to the task force, the alleged gang activities had contributed to insecurity and fear among residents of Dala Local Government Area and surrounding communities.

The suspect reportedly fled Kano after security agencies intensified operations against criminal gangs and suspected drug networks in areas affected by recurring violence.

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Acting on intelligence, operatives tracked him to Port Harcourt and apprehended him in an operation led by the task force’s Head of Operations, CSP Bashir Gwadabe.

The task force said Ibrahim’s arrest outside Kano demonstrated its determination to pursue suspects accused of sponsoring violence, regardless of where they might attempt to hide.

Several communities affected by the intensified security operations include Jakara, Madigawa, Yalwa, Sanka, Kul Kul, Dogon Nama, Kuka Bulukiya, Dala, Shatsari and Dandalin Turawa.

Confirming the development, Magaji warned individuals suspected of financing violent gangs that security agencies would continue efforts to bring them before the law.

He said the task force would sustain its campaign against criminal gangs, their alleged sponsors and drug supply networks linked to insecurity in the state.

The chairman also acknowledged the support of the Kano and Rivers State Police Commands and other security agencies in the operation.

The task force urged residents, community leaders, religious leaders, parents and young people to cooperate with security agencies by reporting suspicious activities and helping prevent the recruitment of youths into criminal gangs.

The arrest comes amid the Kano State Government’s wider campaign against drug abuse, illicit trafficking and gang violence, popularly known locally as daba.

The multi-agency task force was established to tackle drug-related offences and associated criminal activities across Kano’s 44 local government areas.

In September, the task force reported that it had arrested more than 380 suspects and secured over 230 convictions since its inauguration in July 2026. It also outlined plans to expand rehabilitation, vocational training and reintegration programmes for young people affected by substance abuse.

Authorities say the campaign combines enforcement with rehabilitation and community engagement as part of efforts to improve public safety.

Ibrahim’s allegations remain subject to investigation and due process. His arrest does not amount to a conviction, and the allegations must be established through the appropriate legal proceedings.