The Kano Concerned Journalist Forum (KCJF) has expressed deep concern over the rising political tensions in Kano State, warning that the development is worsening insecurity and distracting security agencies from urgent safety priorities.
In a statement signed by its Chair, A’isha Ahmad, the forum said the situation was aggravated by the Kano State Government’s call for the arrest of former governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje over alleged statements linked to the recent security deterioration and associated with Nigeria’s Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin.
Ahmad said the forum viewed the unfolding events as “indicative of a deepening leadership crisis that is amplifying public anxiety, distracting security agencies, and endangering the lives of citizens.”
She added that reports suggesting that recent remarks from political figures were contributing to heightened tensions “show that insecurity in Kano has escalated beyond mere political discourse, impacting rural communities and posing a great threat to urban centres.”
Ahmad stressed the need for restraint, cautioning that political leaders must avoid comments capable of worsening divisions or undermining ongoing security efforts.
“Political leaders at all levels must refrain from making statements that could incite fear, foster division, or undermine the efforts of security agencies. The citizens of Kano require solutions, not verbal confrontations,” she said.
The forum noted that the ongoing political rivalry in the state was shifting attention away from crucial security reforms. It warned that the leadership standoff was undermining public trust and providing room for criminal groups to exploit existing fractures.
According to the forum, the conflict is already “hindering coordinated security planning, overburdening security institutions with political pressures, and allowing criminal groups to take advantage of divisions.”
The KCJF called for an immediate stop to inflammatory statements and urged strengthened collaboration between security agencies and community structures.
It recommended “regular joint briefings between security agencies and community leaders to restore public confidence” as well as enhanced intelligence operations in rural and peri-urban areas where new threats are emerging.
Ahmad also urged political leaders, retired and serving security personnel, and the state government to adopt what she described as a Unified Security Front.
She listed key measures required to stabilize the region, including “a unified, region-wide security framework, collaborative intelligence operations, joint border patrol initiatives, and a common early-warning system to identify threats before they escalate.”
According to the forum, fragmented approaches were no longer effective as criminal groups operate across state lines, making coordinated responses essential for the North-West.
The statement reaffirmed the forum’s solidarity with the people of Kano and the wider North-West region.
“We urge leaders to prioritize the welfare of citizens over political interests and focus on restoring peace, unity, and long-term stability. When Kano sneezes, the entire Northern Nigeria shivers, and therefore it deserves a leadership that alleviates tensions, not one that exacerbates them,” the forum said.
