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
Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited has announced that its ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) remains unchanged, reaffirming its commitment to stability in Nigeria’s domestic energy market.
In a statement issued by Esan Sunday, Head of Media Relations, Branding and Communication, the company said sustaining the current price reflects its efforts to cushion the broader economy against external shocks. It noted that by absorbing prevailing cost pressures, the refinery is helping to moderate inflationary risks, promote energy affordability, and ensure uninterrupted fuel supply amid ongoing global uncertainties.
The company reiterated its dedication to the steady supply of high-quality petroleum products to the Nigerian market, while aligning with national objectives of price stability and energy security.
It also urged the public to rely solely on official communications from the refinery for accurate and up-to-date information regarding its operations and pricing.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated Alhaji Murtala Sule Garo on his emergence as the Deputy Governor of Kano State following his swearing-in on Tuesday.
KANO FOCUS reports that Garo was sworn in by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf after being nominated to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of former deputy governor, Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President described Garo’s appointment as a positive step toward strengthening unity within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State.
The President noted that the 48-year-old politician has held several public offices, including Chairman of Kabo Local Government Area and Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs during the administration of former governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. He also served as the APC governorship running mate in the 2023 general elections.
Tinubu commended Governor Yusuf for the appointment, urging political stakeholders in the state to rally behind the administration to ensure stability and progress.
He also called on the new deputy governor to work closely with the governor in delivering effective leadership and accelerating development in Kano State.
The President wished Garo success in his new role.
Ibrahim Khalil
A dramatic political moment unfolded in Kano on Tuesday as former governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje publicly acknowledged Muhammad Sanusi II as the Emir of Kano and Chairman of the Kano State Council of Emirs.
KANO FOCUS reports that the unexpected gesture occurred during the swearing-in ceremony of the newly appointed Deputy Governor, Murtala Sule Garo, at Government House, Kano—an event attended by top political leaders and traditional rulers.
While delivering his goodwill message, Ganduje addressed Sanusi by his full royal title, drawing immediate attention from dignitaries at the ceremony. The audience responded with loud applause when he greeted the Emir and recognised his position as head of the Kano Emirate Council.
The development is particularly significant given the long-standing rift between the two figures. Sanusi was removed from the throne during Ganduje’s administration, a decision that sparked widespread political and legal controversy at the time.
However, the political landscape shifted following the emergence of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, under whose administration Sanusi was reinstated as Emir of Kano.
Observers say Ganduje’s public acknowledgment signals a possible easing of tensions and may point to broader efforts at reconciliation within Kano’s political and traditional institutions.
The moment has since been described by analysts as a “twist of fate” in Kano politics, where former rivalries appear to be giving way to cautious gestures of respect among key actors.
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