The Kano State Police Command has arrested a suspected notorious drug dealer and five alleged thugs during a targeted operation at Jaoji Quarters, a densely populated neighbourhood in Kano metropolis.
The operation, carried out by officers attached to the Jaoji Police Division, was part of a broader security push to dismantle drug and crime networks believed to be fuelling violence and insecurity in the area.
Police identified the suspected dealer as 25-year-old Hafizu Ali, a resident of Jaoji Quarters. According to the command, Ali was allegedly at the centre of a local distribution ring supplying hard drugs to criminal elements and vulnerable youths in the community.
The spokesperson for the Kano State Police Command, SP Abdullahi Haruna, said the raid followed credible intelligence and was executed under the directive of the state Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, in line with nationwide crime-prevention strategies ordered by the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
Haruna explained that officers moved in on the suspects after surveillance suggested that the area had become a hub for the sale and consumption of illicit substances, as well as a meeting point for street gangs.
During the operation, police reportedly recovered a significant quantity of drugs from Ali. The haul included 2,070 capsules of a substance suspected to be Pregabalin and 23 parcels of dried leaves believed to be Cannabis Sativa. Both substances are commonly abused and have been linked by security agencies to rising cases of violent crime, robbery, and cult-related activities.
Pregabalin, a prescription medication intended for the treatment of nerve pain and certain types of seizures, has increasingly found its way into the black market in parts of northern Nigeria. Security and health officials say it is often misused for its sedative and euphoric effects, particularly among young people. When combined with other substances, it can heighten aggression, impair judgment, and increase the likelihood of criminal behaviour.
The suspected thugs arrested alongside Ali were allegedly found in possession of weapons. Items recovered from them included four knives, two pairs of scissors, and an axe. Police believe the weapons were being used to intimidate residents, enforce control over drug territories, and carry out attacks during street clashes.
Haruna said the arrests were the result of a deliberate strategy to identify and neutralise criminal hideouts in urban centres across Kano State. He noted that the command had intensified patrols, stop-and-search operations, and intelligence-led raids in areas flagged as high-risk for drug trafficking and gang activity.
According to the police, the Jaoji operation is one of several recent actions aimed at cutting off the supply of illicit drugs and disrupting the networks that sustain them. The command has repeatedly linked the proliferation of drugs to a spike in petty theft, armed robbery, and youth violence in Kano’s metropolitan districts.
Commissioner of Police Bakori commended the officers involved in the operation for what he described as professionalism and dedication to duty. He also praised residents who provided information that led to the arrests, urging more members of the public to come forward with credible intelligence on criminal activities in their communities.
The police command reiterated that community cooperation remains central to its crime-fighting efforts. Haruna stressed that many successful operations begin with tip-offs from residents who are willing to speak up about suspicious movements, drug dens, and gang gatherings in their neighbourhoods.
The suspects are currently in police custody and are undergoing further interrogation. Investigators are working to determine the full extent of Ali’s alleged drug network, including possible suppliers, distributors, and regular buyers. The command is also probing whether the arrested thugs are linked to any larger gang structures or have been involved in previous violent incidents.
Haruna said the case file would be forwarded to the appropriate authorities once investigations are concluded, with a view to charging the suspects in court. He assured that the command would pursue the matter diligently to ensure that those found culpable face the full weight of the law.
The Kano arrest comes against the backdrop of wider security operations in neighbouring states. In Jigawa, the state police command recently announced the arrest of 10 suspects in a series of coordinated raids targeting armed robbery, drug trafficking, and related offences across multiple local government areas.
Jigawa’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP Shi’isu Adam, said that operation was conducted simultaneously in different locations, reflecting a growing emphasis on joint and sustained crackdowns on criminal networks that often operate across state borders.
