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KPF:Expert Links Nigeria’s Security Challenges to Neglect of Indigenous Values

Published

3 months ago

December 29, 2025

A Professor of History at Bayero University, Kano, Tijjani Naniya, has attributed Nigeria’s lingering security challenges to the neglect of the core values of traditional administration.

Naniya made the assertion on Sunday during the second anniversary celebration of the Kano Patriotic Front, popularly known as Rundunar Kishin Kano, held at the Kano Chamber of Commerce Trade Fair Complex.

According to him, the modern political system has sidelined traditional rulers, with political leaders no longer recognising them as partners in the administration of public affairs.

He argued that the exclusion of traditional institutions from governance has weakened grassroots administration and community-based security mechanisms, thereby worsening insecurity across the country.

Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the occasion and Chairman of the Northern Reform Organization, Alhaji Gidado Mukhtar, urged Kano residents to reflect on how the state’s long-standing values have been eroded.

Mukhtar recalled that under the former Native Authority system, Kano recorded significant achievements in governance and service delivery. He said the Native Authority owned and managed public institutions such as native courts, police, printing press, schools, agricultural and grazing reserves, abattoirs, industrial zones, hospitals, cattle vaccination centres, water treatment plants, and forest resources, all under the supervision of the Kano Emirate system.

He attributed the success of the Native Authority system to trust, justice, accountability, and contentment among leaders at the time, noting that traditional rulers now largely serve ceremonial roles, as many of their responsibilities have been transferred to constitutional governments.

Mukhtar called on the public to re-examine past governance structures in order to identify where mistakes were made and how recurring problems can be addressed.

Also speaking, a private security expert, Dr. Yahuza Getso, said Nigeria’s security challenges have not been given the attention they deserve.

He advocated strengthening local and community policing to curb drug abuse and trafficking, stressing the need for residents to monitor activities within their communities and report suspicious movements to security agencies.

Getso noted that security is a collective responsibility and urged citizens to know their neighbours and remain vigilant. He cited examples from some Asian countries where community-driven development and local security structures have proven effective in addressing crime.

He also raised concerns over security threats in some Kano markets, including Kurmi Market, and certain motor parks, while commending the Kano State Government for taking steps to address the situation.

In his presentation, Dr. Sulaiman Isyaku Muhammad of the Department of Criminology and Security Studies, Federal University Dutse, called for a return to traditional security systems as a viable strategy for addressing Nigeria’s persistent security challenges.

He explained that indigenous security structures, which were rooted in community participation and local intelligence, played a significant role in maintaining peace in the past. According to him, adapting these traditional mechanisms to complement modern security frameworks would strengthen crime prevention and enhance grassroots security across the country.

In his address, Major General Ibrahim Sani (rtd.) said the Kano Patriotic Front was established to restore Kano’s historic role as a major economic, commercial, and cultural hub in sub-Saharan Africa, recalling the state’s past prominence as a key trade centre in Africa.

He explained that the association focuses on interventions in security, water and sanitation, education, healthcare, tree planting, and digitisation. He noted that the group has made progress in curbing Daba activities in parts of Kano metropolis through youth empowerment and skills acquisition programmes.

Sani added that the association has also supported agricultural activities, water projects, women empowerment, and environmental sustainability, while urging residents to preserve the legacy of late General Murtala Mohammed and embrace digitisation for relevance in the modern era.

Meanwhile, Khalifa Aminu, a beneficiary of the Kano Patriotic Front, said the Chairman of the association played a crucial role in nurturing his innovation skills. With the encouragement and mentorship of the retired military officer, he was able to develop sensor-based space glass and other technological solutions, describing the support as vital to his personal growth and creative development.

He further urged wealthy individuals and government officials to emulate this gesture by supporting the younger generation, noting that such initiatives would help address community challenges and empower youths to become self-reliant.

News

Terrorist Logistics Suppliers Apprehended in Borno

Published

2 hours ago

March 25, 2026

Nigerian Tracker

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai, OPHK, have apprehended 18 suspected logistics suppliers allegedly enroute Gubio, with plans to proceed to the Gudumbali axis, a known Boko Haram terrorists, BHTs, enclave.

This is contained in a daily operational report made available to the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday.

The military said the suspects were intercepted while travelling towards the location to deliver the goods to the terrorists.

According to the report, preliminary investigation revealed that all 18 suspects confessed to engaging in the supply of goods to the terrorist group.

“They admitted that they routinely purchase and convey items to the terrorists.

“Their justification was lack of employment, which points to a deeper socio-economic challenge in Maiduguri and its environs,” the army said.

The development, according to the reportt, validates recent remarks by the Chief of Defence Staff on the link between economic hardship and the sustenance of insurgency logistics networks.

“The arrest highlights the critical role of civilian collaborators in sustaining terrorist operations, particularly in remote areas such as Gubio and Gudumbali,” it added.

The army called for a comprehensive approach combining military operations with economic empowerment and job creation to address the root causes of insurgency in the region.

News

Kano Gov’t Offers Study Scholarship to SWAN Members

Published

9 hours ago

March 25, 2026

Nigerian Tracker

By Abdulgafar Oladimeji

Kano state government has facilitated and supported members of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN Kano chapter to proceed to pursue professional certification courses in sports journalism, our correspondent reports .

The Special Adviser , youths and sports to Kano state governor, Sani Musa Danja, disclosed that the offer covers their tuition fees.

He said , the beneficiaries have been identified and their enrolment process have been completed.

According to him, through interactions with stakeholders , the decision was reached for some sports writers, who are faced with the challenge of acquiring the required professional qualification to practice their trade should be given support to fill the gap.

said, findings have revealed that , for Kano sports writers to compete favorably there exists the urgent need to empower members of the association to acquire certain requisite qualification to enable them feature amongst the best in Nigeria and beyond.

Danja speaking, when he hosted SWAN members in his office , located within the premises of Kano state Library Complex, along Ahmadu Bello Way said that the state government, under Abba Kabir Yusuf , on discovering this major challenge , acted swiftly to address the lapses, by offering to sponsor 10 SWAN members to pursue professional diploma in Sports Journalism at El Roi London University.

In his word “ we give thanks to almighty Allah for his mercies, I want to thank our mentor and leader, his excellency governor, Abba Kabiru Yusuf , who made this possible.

“his excellency takes the issue of empowering our people very seriously, the challenge facing our sports journalists is principally the issue of professional certification, some of our sports journalists have their degrees in other fields, but we are aware that, they also require to obtain certain minimum qualification in journalism or other related fields to help them to excel .

“in line with the policy of the government of his excellency, we have moved in to make sure , these sons and daughter of Kano overcome this hinderance that may hinder their professional progress.

“the sports media is the back bone of sports development and sports promotion, our government is focused and committed to support and reshape the sports media to achieve the set out goal to empower Kano youths through sports.

“the mission of his excellency through this gesture is to empower our professional sports journalists and give them the required qualification to continue with their pursuit to upward steadily representation of Kano state in that sector.

Danja hinted that, Kano state government remains unrepentant in its upward investment drive to create a generation of professionals that would keep the state afloat on the terrain of quality and abundance human resources.

Reacting, chairman SWAN Kano chapter, comrade Zahradeen Saleh thanked the state government for the support.

He said, the scholarship offer is an major step towards uplifting the practice of sports journalism in the state.

He said the dividends of sports could only accrue with the effective operations of the sporting press through the training and re-training of sports writers.

He admitted that, acquiring the requisite qualification to practice sports journalism has been one of the major challenges confronting members of the association.

“ our members who are the beneficiaries of this offer are youths, on completion of the professional course, they will have stable professional growth and would be better equipped to contribute their quota to the development of the state.” Zahradeen said .

News

Obi Raises Alarm Over Arrest of Cleric Who Hosted Him in Kaduna

Published

1 day ago

March 24, 2026

Nigerian Tracker

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has condemned the arrest of a Muslim cleric who hosted him over the weekend, describing the incident as a sign of deepening threats to civil liberties in Nigeria.

In a statement shared on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Tuesday, Obi said he was notified that Sheikh Ahmad Tijjani Umar was taken into custody by security operatives shortly after their meeting in Kaduna on Sunday.

“This development underscores the deeply troubling state of our nation and our democracy, where freedom of speech and movement is increasingly threatened, and where citizens and perceived political opponents face harassment and unnecessary persecution,” Obi wrote.

The former Anambra governor warned that such actions risk eroding Nigeria’s democratic foundations if left unchecked. He urged authorities to uphold the rule of law and refrain from tactics that intimidate dissent.

“This country must defend freedom and free speech, which are the hallmarks of every democratic society. Suppression and intimidation of dissent can never stand in a democratic society, and this Nigerian government must understand this fact,” he added.

Obi called on those “bent on undermining our already fragile democracy” to desist and adhere to democratic principles in dealing with citizens.

As of Tuesday morning, security agencies had not issued an official statement regarding the cleric’s arrest or the circumstances leading to it. Sheikh Umar, a respected religious figure in Kaduna, has not been publicly charged.