The Kano State Government has demanded the immediate arrest of former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje over allegations that he made inciting comments and attempted to form an unlawful militia group in the state.
The call was made by the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Waiya, while briefing journalists on the resolutions reached at the 34th State Executive Council meeting.
Ganduje, however, dismissed the allegation, describing the government’s position as reckless, unfounded, and a sign of administrative incompetence.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu, the former governor accused the administration of Governor Abba Yusuf of abandoning its responsibility to protect lives and property. He said the state government had resorted to political drama instead of confronting the rising security challenges affecting residents.
But Waiya insisted that Ganduje should be taken into custody and questioned by security agencies over his alleged link to recent security breaches reported in some parts of Kano.
He cautioned influential figures against making remarks that might provoke unrest and assured residents that the government remained committed to safeguarding peace and stability.
According to the commissioner, the council deliberated on “recent inflammatory comments” credited to Ganduje and the Deputy Senate President, Barau I. Jibrin. He said both men claimed that Kano was exposed to bandit attacks and announced a proposal to recruit 12,000 people into a religious police outfit known as Khairul Nas.
Waiya said the council considered the comments “reckless and capable of undermining ongoing security efforts” both in the state and at the federal level. He added that less than two days after the statements were made, suspected bandits invaded some border communities, raising concerns that the remarks might have been premeditated or connected to the attack.
In his reaction, Ganduje accused Governor Yusuf of failing to address the insecurity troubling communities such as Bagwai, Shanono, and Tsanyawa, whom he said had been left without support or empathy from the state’s leadership.
Barau Warns Against Politicising Security
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin also rejected claims that his comments contributed to rising insecurity. Through a statement by his media aide, Ismail Mudashir, Barau urged Governor Yusuf to focus on the pressing challenges facing the state instead of engaging in what he described as political mischief.
He noted that insecurity across the country required cooperation among all stakeholders and challenged the state government to present any video evidence showing he made remarks capable of heightening tension.
Barau described the allegations as false, malicious, and misleading, insisting that he had not made any statement undermining security efforts in Kano.
