The Menace of Thuggery and Phone Snatching in Kano State

The menace of thuggery and phone snatching in Kano State has evolved into a grave crisis. 

This escalating violence threatens the safety, security, and wellbeing of residents, particularly in the metropolitan areas.  

Despite the overwhelming fear gripping communities, remaining silent is not an option, silence may very well mean becoming the next victim of these ruthless gangs preying on innocent people.

Kano’s Youth Violence

From the streets of Kurna to Dorayi, and Rijiyar Lemo to Gwagwarwa, chilling reports of violence have become commonplace. 

Street clashes, stabbings, daylight robberies, and innocent lives traumatised by gangs wielding machetes, stones, and knives have turned these areas into unsafe zones. 

The brutality of these gangs, commonly known as practitioners of fadan daba (gang fights), is more devastating.

Social media platforms are inundated with graphic videos and images depicting these violent incidents. 

The Menace of Thuggery and Phone Snatching in Kano State

Terrified bystanders film, young thugs attacking victims who resist having their phones snatched, with many victims bleeding from multiple stab wounds. 

These violent encounters are no longer isolated incidents but part of an alarming pattern that threatens the peace and stability of Kano.

A Personal Near-Miss in Dorayi

Just days ago, a student narrowly avoided becoming a victim during a routine trip from Zoo Road to Dorayi in a commercial tricycle (Keke Napep). 

Two young men suddenly jumped into the vehicle; one sat beside them, the other beside the rider. Despite explaining that it was a private drop-off, one of the youths became aggressive. 

The Menace of Thuggery and Phone Snatching in Kano State

Thankfully, the presence of a nearby police outpost likely deterred any violent intentions. They dropped off at a university gate without incident.

This encounter serves as a sobering reminder that violence can erupt anytime, anywhere. Such an incident was lucky, not guaranteed. For many others, it ends in tragedy.

Violence Spreads Beyond Kano

The wave of thuggery and phone snatching has not been contained to Kano State alone. 

In neighbouring Kaduna, the tragic stabbing of a naval officer, Lieutenant Commander M. Buba, sent shockwaves across the region. 

Attacked while changing a flat tyre in the Kawo area, he was stabbed in the chest after refusing to surrender his phone. Despite local vigilantes’ intervention, he was declared dead on arrival at Manaal Hospital.

Authorities have since arrested at least 13 suspects and launched covert operations to dismantle gangs terrorising Kaduna’s streets. Yet the spread of this violence indicates a regional problem requiring coordinated responses beyond state borders.

Tragic Loss of a Community Leader

Closer to home, Kano mourned the brutal murder of Alaramma Jabir Lawan Abdullahi, a respected Islamic teacher and tech expert. 

On the evening of May 17, 2025, near Gidan Sarki, he was attacked while travelling in a commercial tricycle amidst heavy traffic. When he resisted attempts to snatch his phone, he was stabbed multiple times by suspected thugs and left to die on the roadside.

The Menace of Thuggery and Phone Snatching in Kano State

This horrific act has ignited outrage across Kano.The fact that a well-known and respected educator could fall victim so brutally sends a clear message: no one is safe in the current climate of violence. 

Arrests Made, Yet Violence Continues

According to the Kano State Police Command, over 200 suspected thugs and phone snatchers have been arrested over the last six months. 

In March 2025 alone, the police paraded over 85 suspects from hotspots such as Kofar Ruwa, Dan’agundi, Zango, and Dorayi. Weapons, stolen phones, and illicit drugs were seized.

Despite these efforts, the menace persists, the gangs’ deep-rooted networks rapidly replenish lost members, highlighting the inadequacy of enforcement alone. 

Underlying socio, economic challenges, including high unemployment, widespread drug abuse, as well as poor educational opportunities fuel the cycle of crime and violence.

Steps Taken But More Must Be Done

The Kano State Government has made commendable strides in tackling this crisis. 

Rehabilitation centres in Kiru and Dorayi, alongside the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency’s (NDLEA) facility for addiction treatment, are important tools in combating the link between substance abuse and violent crime.

The Menace of Thuggery and Phone Snatching in Kano State

However, these centres require urgent expansion and increased funding to meet growing demand. 

With rising numbers of youths affected by drugs and crime, scaling rehabilitation services is essential, more of compulsory.

Need  For Holistic Action

Security agencies cannot rely solely on arrests to solve such endearing crises, that requires a community-based approach. 

Strengthening community policing, empowering neighbourhood vigilante groups, improving local surveillance, and fostering trust between residents and law enforcement are critical for restoring safety.

Equally important is addressing the root causes of youth involvement in crime. 

The government must urgently invest in job creation schemes, vocational training centres, and youth empowerment initiatives such as sports and cultural programmes. 

Idle youth are more vulnerable to gang recruitment and drug addiction. productive engagement is the key to prevention.

Moreover, effective rehabilitation programmes and mental health support for addicted offenders must be prioritised. Without this, many youths will remain trapped in a vicious cycle of crime and incarceration.

The Menace of Thuggery and Phone Snatching in Kano State

Lastly, the justice system must be reformed to ensure quick and fair prosecution. 

Many arrested criminals return to the streets quickly due to weak legal follow-up, undermining deterrence and public confidence. 

Stronger, faster legal processes and appropriate sentencing are necessary to break the cycle, as it was previously demonstrated.

A Society In Disarray : The Home Is Attacking The Street

Conclusion: 

The menace of “fadan daba and phone snatching” in Kano has reached a tipping point. No one is immune, from students and traders to community leaders and law enforcement.