12th November, 2012
Mr. Ibrahim Kpotun Idris, Kano State Commissioner of Police, tells MADUABUCHI NMERIBEH that a reform of the Almajiri system is vital to the fight against terrorism
What has your command been doing to arrest the crime rate in Kano State?
So far, we have been doing our best. When I came in here about a year ago, I adopted a policy which, by the grace of God, has been helping us a lot. Having worked with the United Nations in different capacities, I know what it means to use community policing to prevent and combat crimes and social disorders. We have been working closely with all stakeholders–religious leaders, traditional rulers, community leaders and sister security agencies–to ensure that peace and order reign in Kano.
Our mission is to take the message to every doorstep in Kano that the issue of security is everybody’s business. The police cannot be everywhere, but with the cooperation of good citizens, we can continue to win the war against crime. Though the level of cooperation we are getting from good citizens remains very encouraging, we still appeal to the public to always feel free with the police and divulge to us useful information on the whereabouts of criminals. We have made available the phone numbers of the Commissioner of Police, Deputy Commissioners of Police, Area Commanders and DPOs to members of the public. They are advised to call and send text messages to these numbers.
We have also made available e-mail addresses and public complaint boxes to all major locations in Kano. We have public complaint boxes at the churches, mosques, schools, markets, banks and other corporate offices. The idea is to take the business of policing closer to the public. Tell us what is happening in your area, who are those strange faces there, give us information about crime and our men will move in and quell it. We hold all the information given to us in confidence.
Secondly, I have succeeded in instilling discipline among men and officers and I can boast of their loyalty. My command has zero tolerance for indiscipline and offenders here have been duly punished since I came in. I run an open-door policy. I am not the bossy type. I listen to advice and make use of the best out of them. And because of this, my officers are always charged to carry out assignments to the best of their knowledge and capacity. Our approach to issues have been based on the concept of community policing. To tackle terrorism and other security challenges, we are using pro-active and preventive approach.
Despite all you claim to be doing, we still have pockets of terror strikes in Kano city. What are you doing to stop the wave of killings by terrorists on motorbikes?
Already, we have arrested the killers of the two policemen on immunisation assignment at Kofar Dawanau and those of the two Federal Road Safety Corps officers at Madobi Road. They are giving us useful information. We arrested 10 of the suspects. Eight suspects were arrested earlier in connection with the killing of two policemen and three weapons recovered, two of which were snatched from our men on 12 October. Two suspects were arrested over the killing of FRSC officers to which they have made confessional statement. One of the suspects sustained gunshot injuries during arrest and later died in the hospital. The second suspect, Ibrahim Inusa, who is of Sudanese parentage with no fixed address, is in police custody.
Inusa and others at large specialise in the killing of innocent citizens. During investigation, he confessed to have organised and participated in the killing of civilians and security personnel at Gaida, Sheka, Gwale and other parts of Kano metropolis as well as the recent killing of some FRSC staff along Sabon Titi, Madobi Road. He claimed that the FRSC men were killed because they impounded their motorcycle. He also confessed that their gang deceived their victims with a GSM call that there was an accident along Madobi Road, which needed their intervention, and they ambushed them on their way there.
One of the suspects also claimed to have attacked a mobile policeman at a place close to Sani Abacha Youth Centre sometime ago. Members of the gang admitted involvement in hired killings. They also revealed that they were once hired by one man to assassinate another man whom he suspected was having an affair with his male sexual partner. They trailed the man on his Vespa (scooter) around Zoo Road area and killed him.
Indeed, we are doing our best. To curb the growing rate of insurgency in the state, the command commenced the retraining of its personnel in armed and unarmed combat. Since February, we have successfully trained 2029 officers and men. The program will continue as part of the reform policy of the Inspector-General of Police.
From what you have said, it seems many of the terrorists operating in Kano and neighbouring states are mostly foreigners?
From the records I have, I want to tell you that some of the people causing these problems are not Nigerians. It is so difficult a situation because when you interact with them, they hardly speak fluent local languages. They are foreigners, who ordinarily should have no business staying here. But it is so unfortunate that evil men around us hire and use these criminals to destroy the lives of innocent citizens.
Some observers have blamed the influx of aliens on the Almajiri system and our porous borders…
I quite agree that our borders are somewhat porous and it is a huge security risk. It is important to note that a good number of these hoodlums we arrest do not have official papers to reside in Nigeria and they do not have fixed addresses. In other words, they are illegal immigrants. The worst part of it is that they do not have credible sources of living. So, to keep life going, they are always vulnerable to use by enemies of the state.
On the Almajiri system, it is important to note that most of the Almajiris migrate from Chad, Sudan, Niger Republic and Mali. These people were separated from their parents very early in life. They grew up in very harsh environments and you see them walking the streets, begging for alms. They have no means of livelihood and have plenty of idle time.
I think it is important to address the Almajiri issue. I am not saying the Almajiri system is out of order. I am saying that the government and religious organisations have a duty to reform the system so as to stop it from being used as a breeding ground for criminals. I am aware that the Federal Government is doing something in that direction, but I believe it needs the collaborative efforts of state governments and religious organisations. When we tackle the Almajiri menace, it will be a big step further in the fight against crime and social violence.
Are you optimistic that militants will not return to wreak major havoc on the state?
No sane security chief takes the possibility of criminal activities for granted. You are a witness to how we have successfully handled the issue of terrorism in the state. We have continued to clamp down on them and there is no doubt that our power is greater. The desire of the command is to kick out terrorists and we are succeeding. We have the cooperation of other stakeholders such as the Joint Task Force, which has been very supportive. We are always on the alert. There is no doubt that we are equal to the task. Our business is to protect lives and properties of Kano residents and we are dedicated to it. Since the beginning of this year, we have been able to mop and detonate over 1000 Improvised Explosive Devices of different calibres, planted in different parts of the state by terrorists.
I am sure you have been moving round the city and you can find out that the bustling nature of Kano is gradually returning. People come into the city on a daily basis and business activities have kicked off in earnest. Residents are showing serious confidence in the police and other security agencies.
Cases of rape of minors have become prevalent in Kano. How are you dealing with this trend?
It is a pathetic situation. The worst part of it is that perpetrators of this heinous crime are either uncles or neighbours to their victims. We have advised parents to report such cases so that we can apprehend the rapists and prosecute them. But it is unfortunate that most of the cases are not reported. I think the best thing is to take the task to clerics and traditional rulers because I believe they can help. I have been speaking to them and I have also been advising parents to monitor the whereabouts of their children. It is also important to discourage teenage girls from hawking on the streets. Unscrupulous men take advantage of these young girls. In most cases, they defile them without the children telling their parents or anyone else. So, rape is a social problem in Kano that needs the effort of everyone to eradicate.
How have you been coping with the activities of armed robbers in recent times?
We are recording great achievements. On 30 September, our detectives arrested notorious robbery suspects–one Mani, alias Custom, and Umaru Snu, both of no fixed address. The suspects were arrested along Kano-Rano Expressway after a gun duel. We recovered from the suspects, FN Herstal Belgium SSS rifle NO: 090388, two magazines with 20 rounds of live 5.56mm ammunition, Makarov pistol with one round of live ammunition and AK47 rifle with 20 rounds of live ammunition.
On the same day, a combined team of operatives attached to the command and a team of Ali Kwara’s Vigilante unit, while on patrol along Zaria Road, intercepted a Toyota Corolla with four occupants and stopped them for search. But the men opened fire. The patrol team returned fire and their vehicle was forced to stop. One of the hoodlums was gunned down while three escaped through the bush path. A search on their vehicle revealed one AK47 rifle with 20 rounds of live ammunition, two locally made revolver pistols, five cartridges and one AK47 rifle magazine.
We also have the case of a lady running a car theft syndicate. On 19 September, based on information from concerned citizens, detectives from the command stormed a compound at Ungwar Uku Quarters and arrested one Hajiya Hauwa Abubakar in connection with robbery and car theft. She confessed to have conspired with her accomplices to carry out various robberies and theft of cars within Kano metropolis. During investigation, one Honda CRV with Registration No. BM 01 MSA Chassis No JHLRD1848VC 000863, one Range Rover with Reg. No AV 994 JJN and one unregistered Zongshen motorcycle were recovered from her. Efforts to arrest other members of the syndicate are in progress. In the last six months, we have arrested over 120 notorious armed robbers and recovered large quantities of arms and ammunition from them. While some of them have been prosecuted, others are awaiting trial.
We also have routine raids of hideouts. The areas so far raided include Unguwa Uku Motor Park, Yan Awaki, Sheka Makaranta, Sheka Gidan Gabas, Achi Lafiya, Sheka Obajana and Sheka Yar Kasuwa, Walawai by Graveyard and some uncompleted structures in the state.
During the recent raids, 256 suspects were arrested, including criminals who have served several jail terms.
This raiding was successfully conducted based on the timely information from good members of the community. The command will continue to raid all criminal hideouts and black spots. Our emergency lines are available round the clock.
Festive periods are notorious for surges in crime rates. What are you doing to ensure that this period of the year is crime-free?
Just last weekend, we had a meeting with religious leaders, traditional rulers, community leaders, members of the Police Community Relations Committee, sister security agencies and other agencies like the Hisbah and vigilante groups. We brainstormed on how to ensure that Kano residents enjoy the festive period without hitches. Everybody was allowed to make contributions and we all agreed to work together to ensure that Kano remains peaceful.
I also used the opportunity to appeal to parents to caution their wards and always monitor their whereabouts because this is a period that some people get so desperate and can go any length to make ends meet. So, this is our preventive measure and we have decided to meet regularly with the stakeholders and always remind parents on the need to play their own part. Apart from this, we have made arrangements to tackle crime headlong within this period.
Does your command have enough men and machine to adequately fight crime in the country’s most populous state?
To fight crime, what matters is strategy. In as much as we continue to request for more support, we are making judicious use of the resources available to us. My men and officers are up and doing. They are putting in their best. Also, the Inspector-General of Police is doing his best to support us. We are putting what is made available to us to good use. When I was at the United Nations Peace Mission, we had all the resources to work for effective result. In management, you utilise the resources at your disposal.