Tragedy in Kano: Thugs Kill Resident Returning from Maulud Gathering

Kano State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abdullahi Haruna

Tragedy in Kano: Thugs Kill Resident Returning from Maulud Gathering

Yusuf Ahmad stabbed to death in Dorayi Quarters as police arrest suspects and community appeals for calm.

Suspected thugs have killed a young man identified as Yusuf Ahmad in Dorayi Quarters of Gwale Local Government Area of Kano State, in an incident that has once again highlighted the growing concern over gang violence in the ancient city. The tragic incident occurred following a clash that reportedly started after a young man from a neighbouring community sustained injuries. The development allegedly angered his friends, who were said to have mobilised to seek revenge, leading to the fatal encounter.

An eyewitness, Salihu Shamsu Saleh, told Daily Trust that the deceased was on his way home after attending a Maulud gathering when some thugs accosted and attacked him with weapons. He said the attackers inflicted deep cuts on the victim’s chest and neck, which led to his death. The fatal assault has sent shockwaves through the Dorayi community, with residents calling for restraint and an end to the cycle of revenge attacks that continue to claim lives.

The spokesman for the Kano State Police Command, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, confirmed that security personnel were deployed to the area after receiving a distress call. He stated that some suspects had already been arrested in connection with the incident, while investigation was ongoing to identify and apprehend others involved. The police have been conducting clearance operations across the state, recently arresting 345 suspected thugs and recovering 270 dangerous weapons, including knives, cutlasses, and clubs.

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Residents of the area have appealed to youths to desist from taking the law into their own hands, warning that gang violence continues to put lives at risk. The killing adds to growing concerns over the activities of thugs in Kano State, which has witnessed several violent incidents in recent months. Civil society groups have warned that violence linked to Yan Daba groups is threatening democratic stability ahead of the 2027 general elections, listing deadly attacks between January and May 2026, including the killing of 10 people during clashes. According to civil society organisations, Kano has recorded repeated violent incidents in Dorayi, Koki, Abattoir Market, and Rimin Kebe, with many killings remaining unreported and under-documented. The Kano Civil Society Alliance for Peaceful Politics has called on the state government to immediately suspend all political rallies until a comprehensive security framework is put in place.

Amnesty International has launched a public inquiry into the growing wave of gang violence and political thuggery in Kano State. The human rights organisation warned that armed thugs working for some politicians were increasingly posing a threat to the right to life, behaving “as if they have carte blanche to kill and destroy.” The group urged Nigerian authorities, politicians, and political parties to uphold the rule of law and guarantee the protection of lives and property.

The Kano State Government has initiated a “Safe Corridor Kano Model” programme to rehabilitate and reintegrate repentant youths involved in thuggery, with over 2,000 volunteer youths profiled and more than N600 million approved for the first phase of rehabilitation and empowerment. However, civil society groups noted that despite a 2025 government amnesty programme that rehabilitated over 1,300 repentant thugs, the menace has persisted. The Chairman of the Kano State Taskforce Committee on the Control of Drug Abuse and Illicit Substances, Barrister Muhuyi Magaji Rimin Gado, has identified drug abuse as a major factor contributing to crime and gang violence in the state. He noted that the “Daba issue” is a by-product of drug abuse, with violent clashes and reprisal attacks often influenced by drugs.

The killing of Yusuf Ahmad has deepened the grief of a community still reeling from the effects of recurring violence. Residents have called on the authorities to ensure that justice is served and that those responsible for the killing are brought to book. As investigations continue, the incident serves as a sobering reminder of the urgent need for decisive action to curb the activities of thugs and restore safety in communities across Kano State.