The Kano Concerned Journalists’ Forum (KCJF) has called for coordinated intelligence sharing, community engagement, and youth empowerment as critical measures to address the growing insecurity in Kano State.
The Independent Mirror reports that the call was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a high-level multi-stakeholder roundtable on security, organised by the forum and held at the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), Kano.
Signing the communiqué on behalf of the participants, the Chairman of the Roundtable on Insecurity in Kano State, Brigadier-General Lawal Ja’afar Isa (rtd), said insecurity in the state is driven by multiple and interconnected factors, including herder–farmer conflicts, illegal mining activities, and organised criminal networks.
The communiqué noted that insecurity in Kano State stems from “a combination of longstanding herder–farmer conflicts, disputes over cattle and land, illegal mining activities, resource discoveries, and the operations of organised criminal networks exploiting porous borders and ungoverned forest areas.”
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It further observed that banditry in the state is sustained by “a complex criminal ecosystem involving arms dealers, drug traffickers, logistics suppliers, corrupt intermediaries, and local informants.”
Participants also identified youth unemployment and economic marginalisation as major drivers of insecurity, noting that these conditions increase vulnerability to recruitment by criminal groups.
“Youth unemployment and economic marginalisation continue to heighten vulnerability to recruitment by criminal groups,” the communiqué stated.
The forum observed that porous supply chains and trade routes linking Kano to neighbouring states facilitate the movement of weapons, supplies, and criminal elements across borders.
It stressed that tackling the challenge would require “coordinated intelligence, community engagement, capacity building for security actors, and responsible media reporting that supports public safety without compromising operational integrity.”
Among the key recommendations was the strengthening of the Safe Corridor Initiative to integrate community members into early warning systems, monitoring, and reintegration efforts.
The roundtable also called for enhanced inter-state and inter-agency intelligence sharing, as well as the establishment of structured mechanisms for joint operations against criminal networks.
Participants further recommended the development of a lawful and structured watch list for suspected individuals to enable targeted monitoring and improved intelligence gathering, in line with due process and human rights standards.
The communiqué urged governments at all levels to equip, train, and properly regulate community and neighbourhood watch groups, while ensuring effective oversight and accountability.
It also emphasised the need to prioritise specialised training and the provision of modern equipment for security personnel, including advanced communication tools and technology capable of countering guerrilla-style tactics.
In addition, the forum called for the implementation of youth empowerment and reintegration programmes focused on skills acquisition and economic opportunities to reduce recruitment into criminal groups.
On media engagement, the communiqué recommended the establishment of clear protocols for media–security collaboration and the training of journalists in conflict-sensitive reporting.
The roundtable commended the Kano State and Federal Governments for their prompt response to recent insecurity threats and attacks on border communities in the state.
“Participants appealed to the Kano State Government, the Federal Government, security agencies, traditional and community leaders, civil society organisations, and development partners to adopt and implement these recommendations without delay,” the communiqué stated.
It added that the forum would submit the communiqué and the full minutes of the meeting to the Kano State Governor and other relevant stakeholders for urgent consideration.
