Headlines
ACF blames Kano mother, six children killings on drug abuse
Ibrahim Khalil
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has attributed the recent killing of a woman and her six children in Kano to the growing menace of drug abuse, calling for urgent community action to curb the trend.
KANO FOCUS reports that the victims, identified as Fatima Abubakar and her six children, were brutally murdered at their residence in Dorayi Chiranchi quarters of Kano metropolis last week, according to reports by Daily Trust.
Speaking at a joint press briefing in Kano on Sunday, the Kano State Chairman of the ACF, Dr. Goni Umar Faruk, said such a heinous act could not have been carried out without the influence of illicit drugs.
Dr. Goni Umar Faruk
“Once you see somebody slaughtering children like this, he must be under the influence of drugs or be part of a cult organisation,” Dr. Faruk said.
The briefing was organised by the ACF in collaboration with Muryar Matan Arewa (Voice of Northern Women) and the League for Societal Protection Against Drug Abuse (LESPADA).
Dr. Faruk lamented the apparent absence of community intervention during the attack, stressing the need to revive community policing initiatives.
“Every community should consider policing its area. We will establish a committee that will bring together traditional, religious and community leaders to form a strong force vigilant over movements in their respective areas,” he said.
He also called on the government to regulate the sale of arms, ensure proper documentation of buyers and introduce the capture of residents’ thumbprints to aid the identification of criminals. Dr. Faruk further disclosed that the ACF, through Awkat funded by AARNU, would before the end of June provide interest-free loans of ₦100,000 each to 1,000 youths to empower them and reduce their vulnerability to crime.
The ACF chairman commended the Kano State Government and security agencies, particularly the police and the Department of State Services (DSS), for the swift arrest of the suspects involved in the killings.
Cross section of the participants
In her remarks, the Executive Director of Muryar Matan Arewa, Binta Mukhtar Shata, said the meeting was convened to enable mothers to collectively seek lasting solutions to the growing insecurity affecting families.
“Societal values have changed. Mothers are now afraid of their children. We want justice for the perpetrators and we want them punished,” she said, adding that the group would henceforth hold such engagements annually to strengthen family values.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of LESPADA, Maryam Hassan, said the incident had shaken residents within and outside Kano State.
“Government is trying, but it cannot do it alone. Communities must step in, especially in tackling drug abuse, because no sane person will kill another without the influence of drugs,” she said, linking thuggery, phone snatching and violent crimes to substance abuse.
Dr Goni Faruk Umar with Director General Kano State Social Protection Agency Hajiya Amneef
The organisations jointly called for sustained collaboration between government, communities and civil society groups to address drug abuse and restore safety and moral values in society.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, on Tuesday received a delegation from the Association of Kano Business Community at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, during a thank-you visit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
KANO FOCUS reports that the delegation expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for its support to traders and other victims affected by the recent fire incident that razed several sections of the popular Singer Market in Kano.
Speaking during the meeting, the Vice President reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to collaborating with the Kano State Government and relevant agencies to prevent a recurrence of fire outbreaks in markets across the state.
He assured the delegation that President Tinubu has the interests of Kano people at heart, noting that the N5 billion approved as immediate relief for victims was based on the findings of a preliminary assessment of the damage caused by the inferno.
Shettima reiterated that the Federal Government would continue to support efforts aimed at restoring commercial activities and strengthening safety measures in markets to protect lives and property.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Government has inaugurated a 23-member committee to oversee the transparent and equitable distribution of financial assistance and relief materials to victims of the recent Singer Market fire disaster.
KANO FOCUS reports that the inauguration was carried out on behalf of the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Faruq Ibrahim, who chairs the committee. The event was presided over by the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Abdulkarim Kabiru Maude.
According to the Attorney-General, the committee comprises representatives from key government agencies, security services, the Kano Emirate Council, religious leaders, and affected traders.
He said the panel’s mandate includes assessing the extent of losses, verifying genuine victims, ensuring timely distribution of support, and recommending measures to prevent future fire incidents.
The intervention follows support approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as well as contributions from the APC Governors Forum. It also comes in addition to earlier assistance provided by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and the Deputy Senate President, Barau I. Jibrin.
The state government reaffirmed its commitment to supporting victims of the disaster and restoring commercial activities at Singer Market.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Government has announced Saturday, March 1, 2026, as the commencement date for the Eid-el-Fitr break for all public and private primary and post-primary schools in the state.
KANO FOCUS reports that the announcement, contained in the approved 2025/2026 academic calendar, applies to both day and boarding schools across the state.
According to a statement issued by the Director of Public Enlightenment, Musbahu Aminu Yakasai, parents and guardians of pupils and students in boarding schools are expected to convey their wards home by the early hours of Friday, February 28, 2026.
The statement further explained that boarding school students are to resume on Sunday, March 22, 2026, while day students are to resume on Monday, March 23, 2026.
It added that the second term will continue from Sunday, March 22, 2026, and end on Saturday, April 18, 2026.
The government directed all public and private schools in the state to comply strictly with the directive, warning that non-compliance would be treated as a breach of government instructions.
The Commissioner for Education, Ali Haruna Abubakar Makoda, urged parents and guardians to ensure full compliance with the approved resumption dates.
He appreciated parents and residents of the state for their continued cooperation and support to the ministry, and wished pupils and students a successful completion of the Ramadan fast and hitch-free Sallah celebrations.
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