Challenges before new Kano CP

Salman-Dogo Garba has assumed office as the 46th Commissioner of Police for the Kano State Police Command to spearhead the activities surrounding the security affairs of the state. By virtue of the position and in the traditional setting, the Commissioner of Police takes charge as the head of the joint security heads committee in the […]

Salman-Dogo Garba has assumed office as the 46th Commissioner of Police for the Kano State Police Command to spearhead the activities surrounding the security affairs of the state.

By virtue of the position and in the traditional setting, the Commissioner of Police takes charge as the head of the joint security heads committee in the state.

Daily Trust on Sunday takes a look at some of the challenges awaiting the new CP.

Thuggery

The return of acts of thuggery in the state is seemingly one of the fundamental issues bedevilling the people of Kano State and has been a pressing issue before security operatives also.

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While the act has different dimensions and weight across several locations, the most disturbing areas remain open and well known.

Thuggery, widely known as ‘Daba’ in the local dialect, has been destabilising peaceful coexistence and instills constant fear in the minds of innocent people going about their day to day activities, especially within flashpoints areas known for this.

It is undertaken by no one but youth resident in these areas living with their relatives and parents. When thuggery strikes, it’s hardly gone by without claiming a life or inflicting serious injury on one, two or more individuals.

Harmonising people and change of mindset

The issue of security as widely believed is a matter for all to take responsibility for. The case is different in most areas, Daily Trust observed.

The new police chief will of course need to put mechanisms in place to reshape and change the mindset of the people to take responsibility for their security as part of their contribution to the security operatives by engaging the window of community policing.

“Bringing the people together to think in the right direction is very important, people must take responsibility because the perception of individuals has been divided and that has given bad light and name to the government and the security agencies especially the police.

“The police must work to sensitise the public and tell them how they operate and their boundaries. The present situation in Kano is a big example. People are beginning to see the police in a different manner, politics is spoiling things,” Abdulwahab Said Ahmad said.

He added that the government must address the issue of internal security also to protect the image of the police and other security agencies.

Phone snatching

Phone snatching has been a glaring case that has claimed lives of many in Kano State. The same act has resulted in inflicting serious injuries on the bodies of innocent people while their phones are gone.

Daily Trust had reported many cases and how these criminals operate in broad daylight and in the dark as well as the flash points within the state.

The problem seems to have gone lie in the corridors until recently resurfaced to disturb all and sundry everyone risking to be the next victim.

Street hooliganism/Horse riding (Kilisa)

As earlier highlighted, the merchants, promoters and drivers of insecurity are mostly youth within the communities living with their families.

Street hooliganism is fast becoming a threat to security and peaceful coexistence as youth tend to demarcate boundaries for themselves and others from their neighbouring communities.

This act has rendered many to lose important parts of their bodies and created constant fear among the innocent ones.

Horse riding is one issue that is also claiming lives and rendering many to be crippled. Fondly called ‘Kilisa’ in the local dialect, the activity mostly involves youth riding horses on a weekly basis and on ceremonial events within residential communities thereby creating confusion and chaos among people.

Kilisa’ is hardly observed without someone being injured and at times resulted in death of majority innocent ones.

The activity has also fuelled many street fights and thuggery in many communities, especially the most pronounced.

“The previous CPs have done their parts and some of them did well. The police must put mechanisms in place to address this. All the perpetrators of these crimes are not hidden. They are members of the communities living with their families and friends,” Munzali Abdullahi pointed out.

He added that the new CP “Must form a team to put extreme measures in place to avert this.

“A larger part of thuggery is contributed by the government because politicians use them a lot, especially during the politicking period.

“What happened and is still happening in Dorayi is a sad story of how a community has become. At Dorayi, they (thugs) gave notice before their actions and they did what they did.

“No political appointees were there to intervene but only the police. We have seen how the former CP went there and engaged them in a dialogue and all other ways to douse the tension.

“When you ask the community members why they are not exposing the perpetrators they will tell you that we cannot expose them because they are within us and will come back in five days at most to meet us again. Can you risk it?

“Take Gwale, Dorayi and Ja’en case as an example. There is no single person outside the areas disturbing the peaceful coexistence there.

“So, the challenge of arrest, taking them to court and their return within days must be addressed,” highlighted Sunusi Muhammad.

Who manufactures dangerous weapons?

It is evident that the manufacturers of the dangerous weapons used in attacking people within the state are not brought from anywhere. They are made in the state at the local level.

The police have been consistent in showcasing and parading criminals in the state alongside ill-looking weapons that could only be seen in fictional movies or so. The question that always makes the waves is, who makes these weapons?

These weapons are seen at local markets and produced by local blacksmiths.

Recall that the police command had paraded an old man who manufactured locally made guns and confessed to have done that. To who and why remains the question.

Speaking further about this practice, Abdulwahab Said Ahmad said, “The police must anyway see non state actors as rivals or trying to take over their jobs. They must utilise them very well, have synergy with vigilantes and others and respect boundaries and have a strong connection.

“People are fond of being in possession of dangerous weapons and the people creating them are yet to be apprehended. When stringent punishment is put in place for anyone caught with a weapon, it will reduce the fast growing pace of attacks on innocent people.

“We must address going about with weapons – knives and patrol must be stringent. Police officers must wake up and work not in isolation but smart. Operatives of the National Security and Civil Defense Corps are very important in this regard.”

Daily Trust on Sunday further gathered that while most of the ill activities are in evening hours, the operatives have their own side of the story.

Speaking in confidence, some of the officers lamented over poor welfare package and inadequate provision of resources to perform their duties.

“One Hilux truck consumes at least N15,000 fuel a day to be able to patrol effectively but it’s not there. That’s why sometimes the police are thinking twice about moving around with the vehicles.

“This of course reduces quick response to calls or alerts. If the authorities concerned did not fix this, then we will still be having problems. This translates to many things.

“When sometimes for example the owner or manager of a business investment gave us money to buy fuel we are indirectly obliged to be within not far away from that business area so I’m a nutshell we are there to protect his property.”

Meanwhile, as days passed for the new CP in office, it is clear that he is beginning to get hold of the situation before the command as expectations arise.

The CP had reassured determination and commitment to fighting thuggery (Daba) and other violent criminal activities head-on in the State.

This is in response to the troubling re-emergence of thuggery activities (Fadan Yan Daba) in some parts of Gwale, Dala and Kumbotso local government areas within Kano Metropolis, according to the Public Relations Officer of the command, Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa.

He said, “CP Salman Dogo Garba, after assumption of duty on 24th June, 2024, had patrolled the affected areas, assessed the security situation and obtained first-hand information where he assured the residents of his determination and commitment to maintaining peace and order in the State.

During the visit to the affected areas, the Commissioner of Police, engaged with the community leaders and the Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) of those areas to fathom strategies for combating these menaces and restoring peace and security in the areas.

Furthermore, the CP hinted that security is a collective responsibility that requires the involvement of everyone in the society. Therefore, all hands need to be on deck to safeguard the well-being of all law-abiding residents in the state.

Kiyawa further revealed that investigations into the recent incidents of thuggery in Dala, Dorayi and Sharada-Ja’in Quarters are progressing while members of the public should note that their safety and security are the top-most priority of the police command.

“Currently, efforts are ongoing to arrest all the perpetrators of these criminal activities including their sponsors, and subsequently make them face the full wrath of the law,” he said.

Similarly, CP Salman-Dogo has convened a strategic meeting with Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), Tactical and Operational Commanders. This meeting is part of the broader efforts to strengthen security and safeguard the lives and properties of all residents in the State.

During the meeting, the commissioner of police appreciates the officers for their commitment and dedication to crime fighting and maintaining peace despite the daunting security situation in the state. He further charged them to remain resolute and redouble efforts toward surmounting the scourge of thuggery and other violent criminal activities that hitherto bedeviled the good people of the state.

Going forward, the officers were charged to continue with the community policing engagements with their stakeholders and to ensure no thuggery (Daba) incidents are recorded in their areas of responsibilities. They are also warned to always be available to supervise their men as the CP will be going around on supervision.

Furthermore, the CP reminded the officers that accountability and professionalism will be his driving force. In addition, he urges all the supervising officers to ensure the cleanliness of their offices including detention facilities.

Finally, the CP reiterated that “I cannot be sitting in my office to allow thugs (Yan Daba) and other perpetrators of criminal activities to disrupt the peace being enjoyed in the State,” he emphasised.

The new sheriff’s profile

CP Salman was born on 21st July 1966 at Ilorin West LGA of Kwara State. He attended Al-Mubarak Primary School Ilorin, Kabba Teachers College Kogi State, and subsequently obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology from the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

He was enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force on 18th May, 1992 as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police (C/ASP) and trained at the famous Nigeria Police Academy Kano, the then annex in Kaduna.

His career progression started when he was posted to Garki Division in FCT Police Command in the year 1994.

Between 1995 and 2014, he held several positions, including: Divisional Crime Office (DCO), Gwagwalada Division, FCT Police Command; Officer in Charge of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (O/C SARS), FCT Police Command; Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in several Divisions in FCT, Delta and Osun State Police Command; Staff Officer Senior (SOS), FCT Police Command; Second in command at the Department of Operations, Delta State Police Command; Chief Superintendent of Police, Department of Finance and Administration (CSP ‘A’), Delta State Police Command and Officer in Charge of State Intelligence Bureau (O/C SIB), Delta State Police Command.

He was promoted to the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police in the year 2014 and was posted to Area ‘A’ Lion Building, Lagos State Police Command as Area Commander. He was later redeployed to Kaduna State Police Command as Area Commander Metro from 2016 to 2017 and then Area Commander Wudil in Kano State Police Command in the year 2018.

In the year 2019, the versatile officer was promoted to the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) and posted as Deputy Commissioner of Police in Charge of Operations Department (DC-DOPS), Zone 12 Bauchi and then DC Department of Operations at the Anambra State Police Command in the year 2020, and subsequently posted to Airport Police Command as Deputy Commissioner of Police, Department of Criminal Investigation (DC CID) from 2020 to 2022.

The experienced police officer was promoted to the rank of Commissioner of Police in November, 2022 and posted as CP General Investigation, Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) at the Force Headquarters Abuja and later CP Armament, Force Headquarters, Abuja before his redeployment to Kano State as the 46th Commissioner of Police.

He has attended several courses, seminars, and workshops both within and outside the country, some of which include: Community Policing Course in USA in the year 2008; Advance Detective Course at Police Staff College, Jos in the year 1999; Intermediate Command Course at Police Staff College Jos in the Year 2007; Advance Intelligence and Analysis Course at Nigeria Military School of Intelligence, Apapa, Lagos in the year 2010 and Strategic Leadership Command Course at Police Staff College, Jos in the year 2018.

The brilliant police officer traversed all the six geo-political zones of the country and has received several awards and commendations and he is happily married and blessed with children.