News
Top stories that dominated Kano in 2018
January – March
Kwankwaso’s visit to Kano aka “Zuwan Mahadi Kano”
Kwankwaso and Ganduje
The early months of 2018 were dominated by the factional crises within the ruling APC in Kano between the Kwankwasiyya and Gandujiyya factions. The opening salvo was the proposed visit by Kwankwasiyya leader Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso ostensibly to inaugurate the factions’ candidates for the local government elections scheduled to take place in February.
On 2nd January, Kano state governor was reported to be welcoming the senator while warning that he will not tolerate security breach. On 10th January commissioner for special duties Abdullahi Abbas instructed loyalists to stone the “political Satan” of Kano in a direct allusion to Kwankwaso.
The following week, six Kwankwasiyya loyalists including Walidi Abbas younger brother to Abdullahi Abbas were injured at a wedding on January 14. The next day police arrested the commissioner, his two children Sani and Abbas for alleged complicity in the attacks.
Walid Abbas: Injured in Kwankwasiyya Gandujiyya clash.
On January 26, the commissioner of Police Rabiu Yusuf advised Kwankwaso to shelve the visit. According to the commissioner, the move was to avert expected clashes with Gandujiyya loyalists.
In a similar vein, Gandujiyya faction announced plans to hold successive rallies in Bichi, Gwarzo, Kwanar Dangora and Wudil from starting from January 28th. The Kwanar Dangora event was conveniently scheduled for the 30th of the month when Kwankwasiyya adherents were expected to troop into Kano from Kaduna.
Rabiu Kwankwaso insisted that he would be visiting Kano on the set date and alleged that the commissioner of police had been comprised by Abdullahi Ganduje. However, a day to the event, Kwankwaso shelved the visit citing the intervention of elders.
The matter was on 1st February, tabled before the senate by Isah Hamma Misau (APC, Bauchi Central) but the two other senators from Kano, Kabiru Gaya (APC, Kano South) and Barau Jibrin (APC, Kano North) asked for the issue to be treated as a family matter. Kwankwaso refused to comment.
Underage voting in Kano election
Montage of children voting in Kano LG elections.
On Saturday 10th February Kano state Independent Electoral Commission KANSIEC conducted local government chairmanship and councillorship elections with the ruling All Progressives Congress APC winning all 44 local government chairman and 484 councillors seats.
While declaring the results at a press conference at KANSIEC Headquarters, the Chairman of the commission, Garba Ibrahim Sheka, said 25 political parties, including the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), participated in the election with ruling All Progressives Congress winning all the seats.
However, video footage from the election showed some children casting ballots contrary to provisions of the electoral laws.
Sequel to calls from election observers, civil society groups, human rights groups and activists on the alleged underage voting, the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC set up a committee to investigate the allegations.
The INEC report debunked the allegations saying that there was no any incident of underage voting and the pictorial depictions of childhood voters represented a clear manipulation of images to create a fake story.
The report asserts that some of the images presented as children voting were actually children on the queue for food at an Internally Displaced Persons camp in Borno State.
Fatima Ganduje’s Wedding
Fatima Ganduje showing her dance moves.
On Saturday March 2, 2018 Kano state received prominent personalities, including President Muhammadu Buhari, as they attended the wedding Fatiha of governor Abdullahi Ganduje’s daughter, Fatima and her groom, Idris Ajimobi son of Oyo state governor.
The wedding created an uproar due to the flamboyant display of wealth by the couple’s parents and open show of affection by the couple themselves. Mr. Buhari was flayed by critics for attending the event even as bloodletting continued unabated in many states across the nation as a result of herdsmen/farmers clashes.
A week before the wedding the Ajimobi clan including the first lady, their daughters and a few northern first ladies visited Kano State Government House to present the bride’s trousseau.
The bride-to-be received 27 customized Louis Vuitton travel boxes from her in-laws. While the contents of the LV boxes cannot be ascertained, each designer travel bag is estimated to cost about $5,000.00.
Another part of the story that attracted public censure were the skimpy dresses and crazy dance steps of the bride as well as videos and pictures of the couple cuddling and kissing in public.
An Islamic scholar Ahmad Gumi criticized the wedding by warning the people of Kano to be cautious of the “wrath of God” lest He inflicts them with the same type of crisis plaguing Borno State.
April – June
KUST students’ protest
The second quarter of 2018 was dominated by a students, protest in one of the Kano state owned universities.
In May 2018 the Senate of Kano State University of Science and Technology (KUST), Wudil, ordered students of the university to proceed on a two-week mid–term break following a violent demonstration.
KANO TODAY recalls that, on Wednesday May 2, 2018 hundreds of students launched an overnight protest to convey their displeasure over the circumstances surrounding the death of their colleague, one Faruk Abubakar, who died while swimming at River Wudil.
KUST students protest.
Three students of the University had gone to the river to swim and had ran into problems in the exercise, which resulted in the death of one of them as well as exposed the rest to a life- threatening situation.
During the protest, the students set up bonfire, barricaded the roads and damaged some property belonging to the university.
A month after the protest the Senate on June 22, 2018 ordered the students to pay N17,000 before resuming their studies.
According to the senate, N13,000 was the penalty for damages caused while N4,000 was to be used to test each student’s mental health before resuming to school.
An uproar followed the decision with most stakeholders crying that the universal application of the fine on all students was unfair and the sum was too expensive.
After the intervention of Kano state governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje the penalty fees was reduces to 13, 000 instead of 17,000.
July – September
Political cross carpeting – Kwankwaso/Shekarau
The third quarter of 2018 saw a switch of political allegiances involving the two main political gladiators in Kano state, former governors Rabiu Kwankwaso and Ibrahim Shekarau.
On July 24 Kwankwaso decamped to PDP after failing to get the support of APC national leadership in his feud with incumbent governor Abdullahi Ganduje. He was welcomed by Shekarau initially as they met in the latters’ house in Asokoro, Abuja on 28th July.
Aside being a serving senator, Kwankwaso has in his political kitty, nine members of the House of Representatives (who defected with him), Kano deputy governor, Hafiz Abubakar, about ten members of the Kano House of Assembly and thousands of Kwankwasiya members spread across Nigeria.
This made the PDP to dissolve the Kano state exco of the party and appoint a caretaker committee headed by Kwankwasiyya leader Rabiu Suleiman Bichi.
Sheakarau welcoming Kwankwaso to PDP.
PDP leaders Shekarau and Aminu Wali resisted the move while the presidency and APC wooed Shekarau leading to his decamping to the APC. On September 7th Shekarau joined APC where he was welcomed by the party chairman Adams Oshiomhole and given Kwankwaso’s senatorial seat. He however lost some of his supporters who elected to stay with Kwankwaso.
During the PDP primary elections Kwankwaso contested and lost the presidential ticket of the party. His son-in-law and former commissioner Abba Kabir Yusuf emerged as the party’s governorship. In protest, Shekarau’s lieutenant Salihu Sagir Takai left PDP for the PRP where he clinched the governorship ticket.
Other Kwankwasiyya loyalists decamped from the PDP and returned to the APC. These include Hafizu Abubakar, Ganduje’s former deputy governor, Bala Gwagwarwa, former APC national treasurer, Aminu Dabo, former Managing Director Nigeria Ports Authority as well as Muazu Magaji, former special adviser to president Goodluck Jonathan.
The case of former deputy governor Hafizu Abubakar deserves special mention. He resigned his position in allegiance to Kwankwaso and joined PDP on August 7th only to leave for the PRP on November 1st in protest of Kwankwaso’s alleged highhandedness. Abubkar tried to get the PRP gubernatorial ticket but was defeated by Takai. On December 20th he returned to the APC after a meetng with president Muhammadu Buhari. Meanwhile Ganduje had already sworn-in Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna as new deputy governor on September 19th.
KNHA and the return of Rurum
Rurum: In. Atah: Out.
Kabiru Alhassan Rurum, member representing Rano constituency in the Kano state house of assembly returned as speaker in July 2018 after resigning in 2017 following corruption allegations.
He replaced Yusuf Abdullah Atah representing Fagge constituency who was removed for alleged incompetence and other offences.
Earlier in May, the House was thrown into a crisis when 24 members attempted to impeach the speaker without meeting the required 27 signatories to form the 2/3 majority to impeach the speaker.
The assembly complex was shut down by the police and members were barred from entry. However, following an intervention by the state governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje the situation was resolved with the removal of other principal officers except the incumbent speaker.
As part of the compromise, Rurum emerged as deputy speaker paving the way for his later elevation to the position of speaker.
October – December
Ganduje Bribe videos
The most outstanding story in the last quarter of the year is the expose by DAILY NIGERIAN online newspaper accusing governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of collecting bribes amounting to $5 billion from contractors.
The paper claimed to have in possession 15 video clips showing Ganduje collecting the bribes from an unidentified contractor. DAILY NIGERIAN released three videos showing the governor pocketing vast wads of American dollars in what was said to be bribe payments from public works contractors. Three other clips were released online by anonymous sources.
A screenshot of one of the Ganduje bribe videos.
Following the publications, Kano State House of Assembly constituted a seven-man committee to investigate the authenticity of the video. DAILY NIGERIAN publisher Jaafar Jaafar appeared before the committee but governor Ganduje sent the commissioner of Information Muhammad Garba to represent him. He denied all allegations against the governor. On November 5th, the committee was however ordered by a Kano state high court to stop the investigation.
Ibrahim Magu chairman of the EFCC parried journalists’ questions about the videos at a press conference in Abuja on November 12 but acknowledged that the commission is investigating the issue when confronted by a London-based Nigerian lawyer Audu Bulama Bukarti.
Also in an interactive session with Nigerians in Paris, president Muhammadu Buhari said his government was verifying the videos and would take action if they are found to be genuine. He however went ahead and praised Ganduje for being a very responsible governor for completing projects started by his predecessor.
On November 15th, Ganduje sued DAILY NIGERIAN and its publisher for libel claiming a damage of N3 billion. In a related development, an anti-corruption advocacy group, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) sued Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari in December before a Lagos High court for failure to order the probe of the allegation against Ganduje.
Kano Pillars lost Aiteo Cup final
On 24th October 2018 Kano Pillars football club had its most disastrous outing in the year as it lost the Aiteo cup final to Enugu Rangers.
Kano Pillars gave away a three-goal lead allowing Enugu Rangers to win the cup on penalties after the game held at Stephen Keshi stadium Asaba, Delta state capital ended 3-3 at regulation time.
The first goal of the encounter came in the 5th minute of play when Pillars skipper Rabiu Ali, found space between two Rangers defenders to slot in from close range. The dominant Pillars got their second goal in the 20th minute from Alhassan Ibrahim while the third goal came in the 47th minute when Pillars striker Nwagua Nymar took advantage of Rangers defensive blunder to slot home from close range.
Enugu Rangers recovering against Kano Pillars.
The flying antelopes bounced back, when midfielder Kelvin Itoya powered home a stunner from outside of the 18-yard box as they went on the rampage, after two Pillars players got injured in a space of 15 minutes and were stretched out of the field. Chidera Ezeh gave Rangers great hope as he scored the second goal in the 82nd minute. In the 92nd minute of extra time, Ajani Ibrahim beat a helpless Pillars defender to level the game at 3-3. The game went directly into penalties.
Pillars duo of Rabiu Ali and Jimoh Ismaila lost their penalties, while Rangers scored all its four penalties, ending the game 4-3 to lift the trophy.
Ibrahim Khalil
The Kano State Small Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (KASSTOWA) has strengthened security at Joda Waterworks to prevent vandalism, theft and unauthorised access to the facility.
KANO FOCUS reports that the agency disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday, following an assessment visit to the waterworks by its interim managing director to evaluate the security situation.
According to the statement, additional security personnel have been deployed to protect the facility and ensure uninterrupted water supply.
The agency said the measure was part of efforts to safeguard critical water infrastructure and protect public assets from potential threats.
It added that the intervention aligned with the commitment of the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to protecting government facilities and ensuring the delivery of essential services, in collaboration with the state’s Ministry of Water Resources.
KASSTOWA also emphasised the importance of inter-agency collaboration in strengthening infrastructure protection.
The agency called on community leaders, traditional institutions, youth organisations and residents to remain vigilant, report suspicious activities and cooperate with security personnel deployed to the facility.
It stressed that protecting water infrastructure was a shared responsibility requiring the cooperation of government agencies and host communities.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Police Command has foiled an alleged kidnapping plot in Gezawa Local Government Area and arrested two 20-year-old suspects over threats to abduct a village head.
KANO FOCUS reports that the suspects, identified as Aliyu Naziru Garba and Bashir Alhasan, were arrested following intelligence-led operations by police operatives attached to the Gezawa Divisional Police Headquarters.
The command disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday by its spokesperson, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa.
According to the statement, the incident was reported on October 26, 2026, at about 1:30 a.m. by the village head of Bangare, Mallam Idris, who told the police that he had received a threatening phone call from an unidentified person on October 24 at about 9:33 p.m.
The caller allegedly threatened to kidnap him.
Following the report, police operatives launched a follow-up operation, which led to the arrest of the two suspects.
“The suspects have confessed to the commission of the crime,” the statement said, adding that investigations were ongoing and the suspects would be charged to court upon completion.
The Commissioner of Police in Kano State, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, commended officers of the Gezawa Division for their swift and professional response.
Bakori reiterated the command’s zero-tolerance stance on criminal activities and said the operation aligned with the policing vision of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, which prioritises intelligence-led and technology-driven policing, professionalism and proactive crime prevention.
The police urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious persons or movements to the nearest police station.
The command also provided the following emergency contact numbers for reporting security concerns: 08032419754, 08123821575 and 09029292926.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Rumfa Old Boys Association, Class of 1984, has commenced a fully funded pilot programme aimed at improving learning outcomes among selected students of their alma mater through a structured three-year academic intervention.
The chapter’s chairman, Alhaji Ahmed Jibril, disclosed this in a statement sent to KANO FOCUS explaining that the programme would provide sustained academic support to students from Senior Secondary School One (SS1) to SS3.
According to him, the initiative, known as the Targeted Academic Grooming Programme, is designed to address learning challenges through evidence-based interventions adapted to the realities of the Nigerian education system.
Jibril said the programme had commenced with a review and validation of its work plan organised by the old students, with key stakeholders participating in the exercise.
Those present included representatives of the Rumfa Old Boys Association’s national chapter, the Kano State Ministry of Education, the Zonal Education Office, the School-Based Management Committee (SBMC) and the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA).
The three-year initiative seeks to improve students’ academic performance through targeted teaching, teacher development, counselling, parental engagement and improved learning facilities.
Under the programme, all SS1 students will be observed throughout the academic session, after which an initial cohort of 50 students will be selected based on academic performance, attitude to learning, teachers’ assessments and a structured aptitude assessment.
The programme’s planners envisage that about 40 students may ultimately complete the intervention, with parents’ or guardians’ commitment assessed before enrolment.
In the second year, the selected students will form a dedicated class taught by some of the school’s strongest teachers. They will also receive quality learning materials, counselling support and other interventions to address barriers to effective learning.
Parents will be engaged every term, while the Old Boys Association and the wider community will receive periodic updates on the programme’s progress.
The final year will focus on consolidating students’ academic foundations and preparing them for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). The programme will include two full mock examinations, while support will be provided for examination registration for students from indigent backgrounds.
At the end of the three-year cycle, the association plans to produce a comprehensive impact report documenting the programme’s achievements and lessons.
The programme is designed as a holistic intervention rather than a conventional remedial class, with emphasis on addressing challenges affecting students, teachers, parents, the learning environment and education support systems.
Its expected outcomes include at least 90 per cent of participating students obtaining five credits in the WASSCE, including English Language and Mathematics.
Other targets include retraining and equipping six subject teachers, refurbishing a dedicated classroom and developing a documented model that could be replicated by the state government or other development partners.
To ensure accountability, the programme will be supervised by a steering committee comprising representatives of the Old Boys Association, the school principal, programme coordinator, a parent representative, a community or traditional institution representative, and an advisory representative of the State Ministry of Education.
The committee will meet quarterly to review monitoring and evaluation data, approve expenditure and address implementation challenges. It will also report to the association’s annual general meeting, while the association reserves the right to commission an independent audit.
The association said the initiative reflects its commitment to giving back to the institution that shaped its members and investing in the academic future of subsequent generations.
It expressed the hope that the programme would establish a sustainable model for improving learning outcomes, strengthening teaching capacity and supporting future students beyond the pilot phase.
Kano water agency strengthens security at Joda waterworks
Kano Police foil kidnap plot, arrest two suspects in Gezawa
Sheikh Masussuka’s killing: why sectarian blame must not replace justice
Rumfa Old Boys Class ’84 launches three-year academic improvement programme
CS-SUNN mourns Niger state television journalist Habiba Alabura
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