The Kano State Police Command has arrested eight suspects in separate intelligence-driven operations targeting alleged drug peddling, thuggery and other criminal activities in parts of the state.
The operations were conducted in Panshekara and Kunchi/Ghari areas following intelligence received by the command concerning suspected criminal activities in the communities.
The command disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday by its Public Relations Officer, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori.
According to the statement, operatives of the Surveillance Team attached to the Panshekara Police Division carried out an operation at a black spot in the area at about 2:30pm on Tuesday, September 9, 2026.
The operation followed what the command described as credible intelligence on activities suspected to be connected with the distribution and use of illicit drugs.
The police said one of the suspects arrested during the operation was 21-year-old Samson Yakubu of Samegu Quarters.
A search conducted during the operation allegedly led to the recovery of several pharmaceutical substances and dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp.
The recovered items included 15 capsules of Pregabalin, five tablets of Diazepam, 10 Exol tablets and some dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp.
“We arrested one of the suspects, 21-year-old Samson Yakubu of Samegu Quarters, and a search led to the recovery of 15 capsules of Pregabalin, five tablets of Diazepam, 10 Exol tablets and some dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp,” the statement said.
The command said the suspects remained in custody while investigators continued efforts to establish the source of the substances and determine whether other persons were involved in the alleged activities.
“The suspects are currently in custody undergoing interrogation as investigation continues to unravel the source of the illicit drugs and other members of the syndicate,” the statement said.
The police did not disclose the identities of all the suspects arrested during the Panshekara operation in the statement, but said the investigation was being expanded to uncover other members of the alleged syndicate.
The development formed part of the command’s ongoing efforts to target locations it considers vulnerable to drug-related activities and other forms of criminality.
In a separate operation, police operatives attached to the Kunchi/Ghari Division conducted a coordinated market patrol and raid at Matanfada Market between 1pm and 9pm on Tuesday.
The command said the market had been identified as an area where some youths allegedly intimidate traders and residents during market sessions.
According to the police, the operation was aimed at restoring order in the market and preventing activities capable of disrupting the safety of traders, customers and other residents who use the area.
Five suspects were arrested during the operation.
They were identified as Abdullahi Isah of Dustin, Haruna Isah of Daqarawa Village, Habu Badamasi of Dan Taimu Village, Gambo Ya’u of Kura Village and Abubakar Dahiru of Farau Village.
The command said investigation into the arrests was ongoing, while its operatives were working to identify and apprehend other persons allegedly involved in the activities under investigation.
“Investigation is ongoing, while efforts are being intensified to identify and arrest other accomplices,” Kiyawa added.
The police also said exhibits recovered during the operation had been taken into custody and would form part of the evidence in the investigation.
The command did not provide a detailed breakdown of the exhibits recovered during the Matanfada Market operation.
The two operations demonstrate the command’s stated focus on intelligence-led policing and targeted operations in areas considered vulnerable to drug abuse, thuggery and violent crime.
The police have increasingly relied on information from residents, community leaders and vigilante groups to identify locations and individuals suspected of involvement in criminal activities.
The Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, commended the officers and other personnel involved in the operations for what he described as professionalism and swift action.
Bakori assured residents that the command would sustain its operations against drug abuse, thuggery and other forms of violent crime across the state.
“In line with the IGP’s policing vision and our mandate to ensure a safe and secure Kano, we will continue to be proactive. We are sending a clear message to criminal elements that Kano State will not be a breeding ground for their activities,” Bakori stated.
The commissioner’s warning came as the command continued to intensify operations against criminal activities in communities where residents have raised concerns about public safety.
The police also appealed to residents to continue supporting security agencies by providing timely and credible information about suspicious movements and activities.
The command specifically appreciated residents, community leaders and vigilante groups whose information it said contributed to the success of the operations.
According to the police, cooperation between security agencies and communities remains important in identifying emerging threats and preventing criminal activities before they escalate.
The command urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to the nearest police station.
It also reiterated that members of the public should provide credible information that can assist security agencies in tracking individuals suspected of involvement in criminal activities.
Meanwhile, the eight suspects remain in police custody as investigations continue into the separate operations.
The police are expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged drug-related activities in Panshekara and determine whether the suspects were connected to a wider network.
In Kunchi/Ghari, investigators are also expected to establish the specific roles allegedly played by the five suspects arrested at Matanfada Market and identify any other persons who may have been involved.
The command said the suspects would be charged to court upon the completion of investigations.
The arrests come as part of the Kano State Police Command’s broader efforts to deny criminal elements safe havens and maintain law and order across the state.
For the police, intelligence gathering, community cooperation and sustained patrols remain central to tackling activities capable of threatening public safety.
The command said it would continue to deploy its personnel and tactical resources to locations identified as vulnerable to criminal activities while urging residents to cooperate with security agencies.
West Trybe reports that the Kano State Police Command has arrested eight suspects during separate operations in Panshekara and Kunchi/Ghari, with the investigations focusing on alleged drug-related activities, thuggery and other criminal conduct. The command said the suspects would be charged to court after investigations are concluded.
