Kano Concerned Journalists’ Forum (KCJF) hold Roundtable Discussion on the Growing Insecurity in Kano State.

The Kano Concerned Journalists’ Forum (KCJF) convened a high-level
multi-stakeholder roundtable on 25 December 2025 to deliberate on
the escalating insecurity in Kano State, with particular emphasis on
armed banditry, cross-border criminality, and related threats to public
safety and livelihoods.
The roundtable brought together retired military and police officers,
security experts, intelligence officials, human rights advocates,
government representatives, community leaders, and journalists.
Participants engaged in comprehensive presentations, evidencebased assessments, and wide-ranging discussions, culminating in the
adoption of the following conclusions and recommendations.
KEY CONCLUSIONS
• Insecurity in Kano State is driven by a combination of longstanding herder–farmer conflicts, disputes over cattle and land,
illegal mining activities, resource discoveries, and the
operations of organized criminal networks exploiting porous borders and ungoverned forest areas Banditry is sustained by a complex criminal ecosystem
comprising arms dealers, drug traffickers, logistics suppliers,
corrupt intermediaries, and local informants.
• Youth unemployment and economic marginalization continue to
heighten vulnerability to recruitment by criminal groups.
• Porous supply chains and trade routes linking Kano to
neighboring states facilitate the movement of weapons,
supplies, and personnel.
• Effective response requires coordinated intelligence,
community engagement, capacity building for security actors,
and responsible media reporting that supports public safety
without compromising operational integrity.
ADOPTED RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Strengthen the Safe Corridor Initiative to integrate
community members in early warning, monitoring, and
reintegration efforts.
2. Enhance interstate and interagency intelligence sharing
and establish structured mechanisms for joint operations
against criminal networks.
3. Develop a lawful, structured watch list for suspected
individuals to enable targeted monitoring and improved
intelligence gathering, in line with due process and human
rights standards.
4. Equip, train, and regulate community and
neighbourhood watch groups to expand territorial
surveillance while ensuring oversight and accountability.
Prioritize specialized training and modern equipment
for security personnel, including advanced communication
devices, sighting kits, and technology to counter guerrilla-style
tactics, ensuring enhanced day-and-night visibility.
6. Implement youth empowerment and reintegration
programs focused on skills acquisition and economic
opportunities to reduce recruitment pools for criminal groups.
7. Improve documentation and data management of
security incidents, displaced populations, casualties, and
property losses to ensure accurate records and evidence
preservation.
8. Establish clear protocols for media-security
collaboration that safeguard operational integrity while
ensuring timely, accurate public information; train journalists in
conflict-sensitive reporting.
9. Monitor and disrupt criminal supply chains by
coordinating with neighbouring states to identify and block illicit
procurement channels.
CALL TO ACTION
The roundtable commended both the state and federal governments
for their prompt response to recent insecurity threats and attacks on
border communities in Kano State.
Participants appealed to the Government of Kano State, the Federal
Government, security agencies, traditional and community leaders,
civil society organizations, and development partners to adopt and implement these recommendations without delay.
The forum urged immediate steps to strengthen intelligence
coordination, expand community-based prevention and reintegration
programs, and invest in the capacity of security and civic actors to
safeguard lives and livelihoods.
Furthermore, participants resolved to submit this communiqué, along
with the full set of minutes and recommendations, to the Governor of
Kano State and other relevant stakeholders for urgent consideration
and action.
A committee has been constituted to finalize a detailed report and
organize a town hall meeting to broaden stakeholder engagement
and public consultation.
Signed on behalf of the Roundtable Participants:
Brigadier Lawal Ja’afar Isa (rtd),
Chairman, Roundtable on Insecurity in Kano State,
Kano Concerned Journalists’ Forum (KCJF