By Muhammad Mamman
The Kano State Government has formally called for the immediate arrest of former governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, accusing him of making inflammatory statements and allegedly attempting to create an illegal militia linked to recent insecurity in the state.
The demand emerged from proceedings at the government’s 34th State Executive Council meeting, where commissioners reviewed comments made by Ganduje and Barau I. Jibrin, Deputy President of the Senate. The duo had warned that parts of Kano were increasingly vulnerable to banditry — and proposed recruiting 12,000 individuals into a proposed religious police outfit, “Khairul Nas.” The government described the remarks as “inciting, reckless, and capable of undermining ongoing security efforts.”
Less than 48 hours after the remarks, suspected bandits reportedly infiltrated several border communities, prompting authorities to link the attack to Ganduje’s alleged provocations. The council urged security agencies to launch an investigation and detain the former governor.
In response, Ganduje — now also Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) — dismissed the call for his arrest as “baseless, reckless,” and politically motivated. In a statement released by his Chief Press Secretary, he described the move as a sign of what he called “desperation and incompetence” by the current government.
Ganduje argued that rather than offering solutions to the escalating insecurity, the administration has chosen “to chase shadows and hunt scapegoats,” even as communities such as Bagwai, Shanono and Tsanyawa continue to suffer attacks without adequate protection.
As the standoff escalates, many Nigerians are watching closely to see whether security agencies will comply with the government’s demand — and how this will impact the already fragile peace in parts of Kano State.
