A public commentator in Kano, Sufyan Lawal Kabo, has raised questions over Amnesty International’s recent condemnation of the Kano State Government following the alleged killing of five persons during events surrounding the swearing-in of the state’s new Deputy Governor.
In a statement titled Amnesty International Report and my questions to them, Kabo said while no responsible citizen condones violence or loss of life, the international rights group may have acted prematurely by issuing a strong public accusation without what he described as a balanced and verified investigation.
Kabo argued that it is inconsistent for a government actively working to curb political thuggery and street violence to be accused of sponsoring the same.
He pointed to the state’s Safe Corridor Kano Model, which he said has profiled thousands of repentant youths and committed over ₦600 million to their rehabilitation, empowerment, and reintegration.
“Would a government that established the Safe Corridor Kano Model and invested heavily in ending political thuggery suddenly turn around to encourage killings and chaos?” he asked.
He further questioned whether Amnesty International contacted the Kano State Government, the Police, Department of State Services (DSS), Civil Defence, or other recognized security agencies before making its public statement.
He suggested that reliance on social media content undermines the organization’s credibility and neutrality.
Kabo noted that Kano has struggled with political thuggery and Yan Daba violence for decades, long before the current administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf* took office.
He claimed that the present government has confronted the issue more directly than previous administrations through stronger collaboration with security agencies, community security initiatives, and consistent public warnings against hooliganism.
He also challenged Amnesty International to acknowledge the government’s ongoing investments in youth rehabilitation and community peace programs.
He further argued that such efforts contradict any motive to incite violence.
According to Kabo, the Kano State Government has already condemned all acts of violence linked to the incident and stated that security agencies are investigating the matter with a commitment to bringing perpetrators to justice.
“The truth remains that Kano State Government has already condemned every act of violence connected to the incident and security agencies are reportedly investigating the matter,” he wrote.
Kabo cautioned that careless or poorly verified reports on sensitive security matters could heighten tension, erode public confidence, and unfairly damage the reputation of a government making efforts to address complex social problems.
“Amnesty International must understand that careless or poorly verified reports on sensitive matters can create unnecessary tension, damage public confidence and unfairly malign governments making visible efforts to solve difficult social problems,” he said.
He urged the organization to uphold professionalism, objectivity, and thorough investigation before issuing reports that could inflame public emotions and harm institutional reputations.
“Kano deserves fairness. The people deserve peace,” Kabo added.
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