The Kano Concerned Journalists’ Forum (KCJF) has called for coordinated intelligence, community engagement and youth empowerment as critical steps to tackle the growing insecurity in Kano State.
The call was made in a communiqué issued at the end of a high-level multi-stakeholder roundtable organised by the forum on Thursday in Kano.
The roundtable, held at the Conference Hall of the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), brought together retired military and police officers, security experts, intelligence officials, human rights advocates, government representatives, community leaders and journalists.
Signing the communiqué on behalf of participants, the Chairman of the Roundtable on Insecurity in Kano State, Brig.-Gen. Lawal Ja’afar Isa (rtd), said insecurity in the state was driven by multiple factors, including herder–farmer conflicts, illegal mining and organised criminal networks.
According to the communiqué, “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 organised criminal networks exploiting porous borders and ungoverned forest areas.”
It further noted that banditry in the state was sustained by “a complex criminal ecosystem comprising arms dealers, drug traffickers, logistics suppliers, corrupt intermediaries, and local informants.”
Participants also identified youth unemployment and economic marginalisation as major drivers of insecurity in the state.
“Youth unemployment and economic marginalisation continue to heighten vulnerability to recruitment by criminal groups,” the communiqué stated.
The forum observed that porous supply chains and trade routes linking Kano to neighbouring states were facilitating the movement of weapons, supplies and criminal elements across borders.
It stressed that addressing the challenge would require “coordinated intelligence, community engagement, capacity building for security actors, and responsible media reporting that supports public safety without compromising operational integrity.”
Among the recommendations adopted was the strengthening of the Safe Corridor Initiative to integrate community members into early warning systems, monitoring and reintegration efforts.
The roundtable also called for enhanced interstate and interagency intelligence sharing, alongside the establishment of structured mechanisms for joint operations against criminal networks.
Participants further recommended the development of “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.”
The communiqué urged government at all levels to equip, train and regulate community and neighbourhood watch groups, while ensuring proper oversight and accountability.
It also emphasised the need to prioritise specialised training and modern equipment for security personnel, including advanced communication devices and technology capable of countering guerrilla-style tactics.
In addition, the forum called for the implementation of youth empowerment and reintegration programmes focused on skills acquisition and economic opportunities to reduce recruitment into criminal groups.
On media engagement, the communiqué recommended the establishment of clear protocols for media–security collaboration, adding that journalists should be trained in conflict-sensitive reporting.
The roundtable commended the Kano State and Federal Governments for what it described as their prompt response to recent insecurity threats and attacks on border communities in the state.
“Participants appealed to the Government of Kano State, the Federal Government, security agencies, traditional and community leaders, civil society organisations and development partners to adopt and implement these recommendations without delay,” the communiqué said.
It added that the forum would submit the communiqué and the full minutes of the meeting to the Kano State Governor and other relevant stakeholders for urgent consideration.
