Angry women and young girls poured into the streets of Kofar Mata in Kano on Saturday, protesting the unending wave of violence that has claimed the lives of their children and loved ones.
The area, long plagued by gang activity and brutal killings, has seen fresh clashes between rival groups, pushing residents—especially mothers—to the edge.
Chanting and carrying placards, the protesters marched through the streets, demanding that authorities act decisively to end the bloodshed.
“Our sons are dying for no reason. Every day, there is a fight, a killing, a stabbing,” one grieving mother said at the protest.
“We can’t continue like this,” another woman added.
Gang clashes in Kano have intensified in recent months. Just days before the protest, violent confrontations erupted around Kofar Mata on July 31 and August 1, leaving the community shaken.
Sadiya Umar, a health worker in the area, recalled, “I just passed the area today and I heard teargas and I think I heard gunshots too. We were terrified, but I didn’t hear of the death of anyone.”
Residents say the violence has become part of daily life, especially for young people caught in the middle of gang rivalries and phone-snatching operations.
In one recent incident in Nasarawa Local Government Area, a gang of phone snatchers was knocked down by a vehicle shortly after robbing people at knifepoint.
A video of the event, which went viral, shows residents beating the suspects before handing them over to the police.
These types of community-led actions are becoming more frequent, as many feel law enforcement has failed to protect them. Locals say they often catch and beat suspected criminals before the police arrive.
To address the growing crisis, the Kano State Police Command launched Operation Kukan Kura earlier this year, targeting phone snatchers and gang members locally known as ‘Yan Daba’.
The police say the initiative has led to multiple arrests and intensified patrols in affected areas, with updates regularly shared on the Facebook page of the command’s spokesperson, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa.
Despite these efforts, many residents believe the authorities are not doing enough.
Street violence continues to disrupt daily life in Kano, with gangs clashing openly and innocent bystanders getting caught in the chaos.
