Kano, the historic pulse of Northern Nigeria, is facing a wave of terror — not from insurgents in remote forests, but from ruthless killers lurking in broad daylight. Street gangs, infamously known as ‘Yan Daba’, have turned the city’s neighborhoods into hunting grounds, while those entrusted with power remain disturbingly silent.
In the past few weeks, countless lives have been cut short simply because the victims owned mobile phones. The latest tragedy, the brutal killing of Sadiq Gentle — a vibrant young man with dreams ahead of him — has left the city in shock. Stabbed mercilessly for a gadget worth far less than his life, Sadiq’s death is more than a robbery gone wrong; it is an execution. The perpetrators didn’t just snatch a device — they snatched a son, a brother, a friend, and a future.
These are not faceless criminals. They are people we know — sons of our neighbors, boys who once ran errands for elders, now consumed by drugs, gang culture, and a twisted thirst for notoriety.
And what of the leadership? Engrossed in political squabbles, basking in the perks of office, and turning a blind eye as the blood of their people stains the streets. Security agencies cannot plead ignorance either. These killers roam freely, terrorizing communities, emboldened by lax enforcement. Arrests, when they happen, rarely lead to convictions. The cycle of crime continues unchecked.
If nothing changes, today’s phone snatchers will evolve into tomorrow’s hardened robbers, kidnappers, and terrorists. The seeds of a fearless, heartless criminal generation are being sown right before us.
This is a wake-up call to the Police, the DSS, and the Kano State Government: unleash an unrelenting crackdown, dismantle these gangs, raid their safe havens, and restore fear of the law in the hearts of criminals. Act now — not after the next coffin is lowered into the ground, not after another mother cries over the body of her murdered child.
Kano is in pain. And the whole nation is bearing witness.
@Zagazola
Makama
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