Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has responded to an open letter from social advocate and Executive Director of the Youth Society for the Prevention of Infectious Diseases & Social Vices (YOSPIS), Zainab Nasir Ahmad, who raised concerns over the growing violence involving young people and political thuggery in Kano State.
In the letter, widely circulated on social media, Zainab recounted how she narrowly escaped a violent clash involving armed youths. She described Kano as being increasingly overrun by jobless, drug-affected youths used by politicians for violent ends.
“Kano is bleeding,” she wrote, calling on Governor Abba to declare a state of emergency, strengthen community policing, prosecute those behind the violence, and invest in youth-centered initiatives.
A week later, the Chairman of the Kano State Emergency Security Committee, Dr. Yusuf Ibrahim Kofar Mata, publicly acknowledged the letter through his Facebook page.
“That is good, and they are often being arrested, but of course, everything cannot be resolved in one day,” Kofar Mata wrote. “We have received your letter, extracted the actionable points, and forwarded them to His Excellency, Governor Abba K. Yusuf, for approval so we can proceed with the launch in collaboration with the security agencies.”
Governor Abba also made a direct comment in response to a Facebook user, Nura Shehu, who referenced Zainab’s letter.
“Nura Shehu, thank you very much. The government has made special arrangements to tackle this issue very soon,” the governor wrote from his verified account.
Some social media users questioned whether the comment genuinely came from the governor, but Ibrahim Adam, Special Adviser on Information to the Governor, confirmed it.
“I just woke up and saw His Excellency’s comment on the open letter addressed to him,” he said.
Many are now watching to see what concrete steps the government will take to address the issue, especially the alleged involvement of some politicians in recruiting vulnerable youths for violence.
