Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim

Insecurity, climate change, limited livelihood opportunities and youth unemployment are among the major factors driving irregular migration, the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) has said.

KANO FOCUS reports that the Principal Executive Officer of the NCFRMI, Kano Office, Ibrahim Isah, stated this in Kano at a training for civil society organisations, women’s groups and local authorities on gender-responsive migration governance and climate adaptation, organised by the African Health Information and Promotion Initiative (AHIP), in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) under the ROOTS Project.

Isah said irregular migration exposes migrants to several dangers, including trafficking, exploitation and smuggling through dangerous desert and sea routes.

He said insecurity, climate change, limited livelihood opportunities and youth unemployment were contributing to both internal and outward migration.

He urged intending migrants to make informed decisions by assessing their needs, obtaining reliable information, considering potential risks, planning safely and exploring available alternatives before embarking on any journey.

According to him, risk mitigation should begin before departure and involve community-level actors, reliable information sources and appropriate protection mechanisms.

Isah stressed that community leadership remains central to migration governance because of its trust and legitimacy, local knowledge, capacity for early prevention and support for reintegration.

He added that community leaders could also serve as a bridge between communities and government institutions in promoting safer migration and protecting vulnerable people.

The Executive Director of AHIP, Dr Mairo Bello, said the initiative was aimed at strengthening community capacity to address migration challenges and climate-related vulnerabilities.

Participants shared experiences of irregular migration, highlighting hardships faced by migrants in some destination countries, including exploitation, detention, illness and other forms of abuse after falling into the hands of criminal networks and unscrupulous individuals.

KANO FOCUS reports that the participants called for stronger community-based measures to promote safe and informed migration, improve access to reliable information and protect vulnerable groups from trafficking and exploitation. They stressed that closer collaboration among communities, government institutions and relevant stakeholders would be critical to tackling the drivers of irregular migration and strengthening protection for migrants before, during and after their journeys.

Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim

The Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has commenced investigation into a passenger arrested with $265,000 at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano State.

KANO FOCUS reports that the suspect, identified as Adam Musa Adam, was arrested on Sunday, September 26, 2026, during routine screening by officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

Adam, who was travelling on a Nigerian passport from New Delhi aboard Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET941, was intercepted after his luggage was flagged for secondary examination using Non-Intrusive Inspection Technology.

The examination reportedly led to the discovery of $265,000 in undeclared foreign currency concealed among his personal belongings.

The suspect and the recovered currency were subsequently handed over to the EFCC for further investigation.

While handing over the suspect and exhibits to the anti-graft agency, the Acting Customs Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Usman Umar Adamu, said the movement of foreign currency above the approved threshold without declaration contravenes Sections 3 and 4 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022, as well as relevant provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.

Adamu disclosed that the Command had, from January to date, intercepted undeclared foreign currency and other negotiable instruments valued at more than N2.5 billion.

He said the handover was carried out in line with Section 4(f) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.

Receiving the suspect and exhibits on behalf of the EFCC, the Acting Kano Zonal Director, Assistant Commander of the EFCC (ACE1) Friday S. Ebelo, described the development as a demonstration of inter-agency collaboration in the fight against illicit financial flows.

Ebelo said the EFCC would conduct further investigation and prosecute the case in accordance with the law.

“The EFCC will conduct and carry out its established mandate by further investigating and prosecuting this case to its logical conclusion,” he said.

He described the collaboration between the two agencies as important to safeguarding Nigeria’s financial system and preventing illicit movement of funds.

Ebelo expressed appreciation to the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for supporting inter-agency cooperation.

He also commended the Customs officers involved in the arrest for their vigilance and commitment to enforcing regulations governing the cross-border movement of currency.

“Let me, on behalf of my boss, Mr Ola Olukoyede, the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, thank the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for the sustained partnership,” Ebelo said.

The EFCC is expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the undeclared funds and take appropriate legal action based on the outcome of its investigation.

Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim

The Kano State Government has suspended all forms of Durbar processions and horse-riding activities within the Kano metropolis until further notice.

KANO FOCUS reports that the directive followed an emergency meeting of the State Security Council held at the Government House, Kano, where the security situation surrounding the planned activities was reviewed.

In a statement issued on Sunday by the Director-General, Media and Publicity, Government House, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the government said the decision was taken as a precautionary measure to prevent possible confrontation, preserve public order and avert potential loss of lives or damage to property.

According to the statement, security assessments indicated significant mobilisation of supporters in connection with the planned activities, raising concerns about possible clashes and a potential breakdown of law and order.

The State Security Council, exercising the government’s constitutional responsibility to safeguard lives and property and maintain peace and public order, therefore directed that the planned Durbar processions and horse-riding activities be suspended.

The government said all relevant security agencies in the state had been directed to enforce the restriction and take appropriate lawful action against anyone found violating the directive or engaging in conduct capable of threatening public peace and security.

The state government urged residents, traditional institutions, political actors, supporters and other stakeholders to remain calm, peaceful and law-abiding and to comply fully with the directive.

It also assured residents that all necessary measures were being taken to protect lives and property and maintain peace and public order across the state.