Headlines
Police arrest 4 suspected kidnappers including a woman terrorising Zamfara, Kano
Nasiru Yusuf
Police in Kano have on Wednesday paraded four suspected kidnappers including a 23 year widow Maryam Muhammad, of Butsa Village, Gusau, local government area of Zamfara State.
Parading the suspects, police spokesperson in Kano Abdullahi Haruna said the accused were arrested on Friday at a rented apartment located at Jaba Quarters, Ungogo local government area where they held hostage Mohammed Sanusi and demanded ten million Naira ransom from his parents.
He explained that the police have successfully rescued the victim unhurt after a fierce gun duel with the kidnappers.
Mr Kiyawa recalled that on January 12 one Sunusi Ado of Galadanchi Quarters, Gwale local government area of Kano state reported that his 29 year old son, Mohammed Sanusi, was kidnapped and a ransom of ten million Naira was demanded.
“Upon receipt of the complaint, the Commissioner of Police, Kano State Command, CP Habu A. Sani, psc, raised and instructed a team of Operation Puff Adder, led by DSP Shehu Dahiru, to arrest the culprits.
“The Team swiftly swung into action, and following credible intelligence, on 15 January, 2021, that is 3 days after the report, raided a rented apartment located at Jaba Quarters, Ungogo LGA of Kano State where the victim was held hostage.
“The gallant team cordoned the area, engaged the occupants of the house in a fierce gun duel, successfully rescues the victim unhurt and arrested the suspects,” Mr Haruna said.
Other aspects arrested beside Ms Muhammad are Sani Ibrahim and Shamsuddeen Suleiman all of Butsa Village, Gusau local government area Zamfara State and Ishaq Khalil, of Rijiyar Lemo Quarters, Fagge local government Kano State.
All the suspects according to police spokesperson confessed involving in series of kidnappings in Kano and Zamfara states.
Mr Haruna added that the police have recovered one AK-47 rifle, one Magazine loaded with 30 rounds of Live Ammunition and an unregistered motorcycle.
According to police spokesperson investigation revealed that Maryam’s husband, Sani Ismail of of Niger state, was a Notorious cattle rustler, killed in Zamfara state while carting away rustled cows.
Mr Kiyawa told journalists that after the death of Ms Muhammad’s husband, her brother, Hamza Dogo, also a notorious kidnapper relocated her to Kano where she rented apartments in Unguwa Uku, Panshekara and Maidile Quarters.
According to police findings Ms Muhammad later moved to Jaba Quarters and rented another apartment for six hundred thousand Naira per annum, which she turned into a kidnappers den.
How they trapped the victim
Ms Muhammad revealed that on January 12, around 8 pm, she contacted the victim via his mobile phone and told him to bring her a new Samsung handset for her to buy at sixty five thousand Naira.
Maryam Muhammad
She disclosed the victim drove his Toyota Vibe Motor Vehicle to the apartment. They opened the gate of the house, and as soon as he entered, the four of them attacked him, tied him up, took his Motor Vehicle to Zamfara State and contacted his family for ten million Naira Ransom.
Ms Muhammad disclosed that though, they demanded ransom, their plan was to kill him after collecting the ransom, because the victim knows the apartment and recognizes them.
She recalled that, on October 2, last year, they have kidnapped one Shafiu Umar, of Naibawa Quarters, Kumbotso local government area of Kano state, and held him hostage in Zamfara State.
She also confessed that they collected a ransom of ten million Naira, a brand new motorcycle and Toyota Corolla LE worth two million, five hundred thousand Naira.
The police said they have recovered the Toyota Vibe Motor Vehicle from one Ishaq Yusuf of Gidan Dawa Quarters, Gusau, Zamfara state on Monday January 19.
Mr Kiyawa told journalists that the Kano state Commissioner of Police Habu Sani has ordered for discrete investigation for the Police to arrest accomplices of the syndicate and recover their operational weapons.
He advised Kano residents to be extra careful in renting apartments to strangers.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has sworn in six newly appointed commissioners, three advisers and 19 permanent secretaries as part of efforts to strengthen governance and improve service delivery in the state.
KANO FOCUS reports that the ceremony followed the confirmation of the six commissioner nominees by the Kano State House of Assembly on October 26, 2026, after completing the legislative screening process.
The newly sworn-in commissioners are Air Commodore Salisu Yusha’u (retd.), assigned to the Ministry of Internal Security and Special Services; Ibrahim Namadi Dala, Investment; Prof. Sani Lawan Manunfashi, Higher Education; Muktar Ishaq Yakasai, Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation; Dr Aminu Ibrahim Tsanyawa, Science and Technology; and Idris Garba Mustapha, Special Duties.
In a related development, the governor announced a minor cabinet reshuffle involving the redeployment of two commissioners to different ministries.
Under the new arrangement, Dr Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, who previously served as Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, has been moved to the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.
Similarly, Hamza Kachaco has been redeployed to the Ministry of Environment.
The reshuffle leaves the Ministries of Information and Internal Affairs, as well as Solid Minerals and Mineral Resources, vacant pending further decisions by the state government.
According to a statement issued by the Director-General, Media and Publicity, Government House, Kano, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the appointments and redeployments are aimed at strengthening government institutions, improving administrative efficiency and repositioning key ministries for effective service delivery.
The governor urged the new appointees to demonstrate dedication, integrity and commitment to their responsibilities, stressing the need to prioritise public interest and contribute to the development of the state.
He also charged them to work collaboratively in advancing his administration’s development agenda and delivering the dividends of democracy to the people.
Gov Yusuf congratulated the appointees and wished them success in their respective assignments.
Ibrahim Khalil
Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has redeployed the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, to the Ministry of Youths and Sports as part of a cabinet reshuffle involving eight ministries.
KANO FOCUS reports that under the new arrangement, Waiya moves from the Ministry of Information to the Ministry of Youths and Sports, while Hon. Hamza Safyanu Kachako has been transferred from the Ministry of Mineral Resources to the Ministry of Environment.
The reshuffle also assigns new commissioners to several ministries.
Hon. Yushau Soja has been assigned to the Ministry of Internal Security, while Hon. Idris Garba Mustapha will oversee the Ministry of Special Duties.
Similarly, Hon. Muntari Ishaq Yakasai has been assigned to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, and Hon. Ibrahim Namadi Dala will head the Ministry of Commerce.
Other appointments include Hon. Ibrahim Tsanyawa as Commissioner for Science and Technology and Prof. Sani Lawal as Commissioner for Higher Education.
The reshuffle affects eight ministries, with the changes involving both new portfolio assignments and the redeployment of serving commissioners.
Headlines
Albasu APC ieaders accuse council chairman, state assembly member of anti-party activities
They accuse council chairman, state lawmaker of supporting opposition senatorial candidate
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Some leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Albasu Local Government Area of Kano State have petitioned Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and the party’s State Working Committee over alleged anti-party activities involving the council chairman, Garba Aliyu Hungu, and the member representing Albasu Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Musa Tahir Hungu.
KANO FOCUS reports that the petitioners accused the two officials of maintaining political relationships with Kasim Ibrahim Bataiya, the New Democratic Congress (NDC) senatorial candidate for Kano South, and allegedly working against the interests of the APC and its candidate, Senator Kawu Sumaila.
The petition, reportedly signed by more than 300 party officials and stakeholders across the wards and local government area, urged the governor and the party leadership to investigate the allegations and determine whether the conduct of the two officials violated the APC constitution.
According to the petitioners, the relationship between the officials and Bataiya predated their emergence as APC candidates, alleging that the NDC candidate had played a role in securing their previous political tickets.
They claimed that the relationship had continued despite their current political affiliations, raising concerns about their loyalty to the APC.
The petitioners further alleged that some elected councillors, political appointees and local government party officials had participated in activities organised by Bataiya, including attending his campaign rallies and mobilising support for his senatorial ambition.
One of the allegations was that the local government chairman provided the council’s town hall for political meetings and the launch of Bataiya’s senatorial campaign.
The stakeholders also accused the chairman and the lawmaker of frustrating efforts by party elders to investigate the alleged involvement of some APC councillors and executive committee members in the opposition candidate’s campaign activities.
They said a fact-finding committee was constituted under the leadership of Dr Yunusa Adamu Dangwani to examine the allegations but claimed that the two officials prevented it from carrying out its assignment.
The petitioners also alleged that the local government leadership failed to organise meetings with members of the APC legacy group despite what they described as directives from the governor and the party leadership.
They said one meeting was eventually held through the intervention of the member representing Albasu, Gaya and Ajingi Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, but subsequent attempts to convene further meetings allegedly failed due to the chairman’s lack of commitment.
On the distribution of government empowerment programmes, the petitioners alleged that benefits intended for APC members and supporters were often diverted to individuals considered loyal to the NDC senatorial candidate.
They expressed concern that genuine APC members in the area were being marginalised and called for greater accountability in the distribution of government interventions.
The petition also cited the mobilisation of party members for the presidential campaign flag-off in Kaduna, alleging that while other local governments provided at least 30 buses for the exercise, Albasu provided only 17.
Another issue raised was the continued participation of the serving Amirul Hajj in NDC activities. The petitioners alleged that the individual had retired from public service about two years ago but had yet to be replaced by the local government leadership.
They argued that the alleged activities could undermine party discipline, unity and the APC’s electoral prospects in Albasu and the wider Kano South Senatorial District.
The stakeholders consequently urged Governor Yusuf, whom they described as the party leader in Kano State, and the State Working Committee to examine the allegations under Article 21 of the APC constitution and determine whether the conduct of the two officials amounts to punishable anti-party activities.
However, they called for a fair and impartial process, urging the party leadership to invite the accused officials to respond to the allegations before taking any disciplinary action.
The petitioners maintained that their action was intended to protect the party’s interests, promote accountability and strengthen its unity at the grassroots, rather than malign any individual or prejudge the outcome of an investigation.
The petition was signed by Hon. Adamu Abdu Fanda, Caucus Chairman; Hon. Wada Ibrahim Daho, Caucus Secretary; former Kano State House of Assembly member, Hon. Sunusi Usman Bataiya; Isyaka Danyaya, Albasu APC Deputy Chairman; and other local government and ward officials.
Efforts to contact Garba Aliyu Hungu and Musa Tahir Hungu for their reactions to the allegations were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
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