On November 5, 2025, Abba Kabir Yusuf, Governor of Kano State, sat across from Major General Mohammed Usman, General Officer Commanding of the Nigerian Army's 1st Division, at the Government House in Kano City, and said something rare in today’s security discourse: "We see results." The meeting came just hours after troops under Usman’s command had completed a 16-day offensive that neutralized 47 bandits, rescued 216 kidnapped civilians, and recovered over 1,800 cattle — a rare, measurable win in a region long plagued by chaos. The twist? This wasn’t just another press release. It was the culmination of a coordinated, multi-layered push that had been quietly building since October 15, 2025.
From Silence to Success: The Military’s Quiet Surge
The momentum didn’t start with Yusuf. It began on November 3, when Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, Chief of Army Staff, landed in Kano for an unannounced field visit. He didn’t hold a press conference. He didn’t pose for photos. He went straight to Wase Local Government Area — a dense, remote zone bordering Jigawa and Katsina — where bandits had turned forests into hideouts and villages into ghost towns. Troops there told him they’d been operating on three days’ rations. Oluyede didn’t promise more money. He promised more time. And more precision. By November 4, the 1st Division had tracked down three major bandit camps. One was hidden inside an abandoned cocoa farm near Gaya. Another, a converted mosque in Karaye. The third? A network of caves along the Kano-Niger border. In each, soldiers found chains, ransom notes, and the charred remains of vehicles. The operation was clean. No civilian casualties. No collateral damage. Just cold, calculated action.Political Unity in a Fractured Region
The next day, November 5, Yusuf didn’t just thank the military — he made it official. "Our people are tired of running," he told reporters after the meeting. "We’re not just giving lip service. We’re putting resources behind the fight." And he meant it. By December 15, 500 additional Kano State Mobile Police (MOPOL) officers will be deployed to key checkpoints. An extra ₦350 million from the 2025 supplementary budget will buy surveillance drones — not just for monitoring, but for real-time tracking of bandit movements. The Government of Kano State has also unlocked ₦1.2 billion from its Security Trust Fund since 2022 — money that funded informants, vehicle trackers, and even mobile clinics for rescued hostages. Then came the political punch. On November 6, at 2:30 PM WAT, Yusuf and Jibrin Barau, Deputy Senate President and senator for Kano South, issued a joint statement from the Senate of Nigeria in Abuja. Barau, who sits on the Senate Defence Committee, confirmed that his panel had approved an additional ₦850 million for counter-banditry operations just weeks earlier — on October 17. "This isn’t a state issue," he said. "It’s a national emergency. And the Senate stands with the troops."
Why This Matters to 15.2 Million People
Kano State has over 15.2 million residents. Since January 2024, over 127 documented bandit attacks have left families shattered, farms abandoned, and markets empty. In Gaya alone, school enrollment dropped by 40% last year. Farmers now arrive at their fields before sunrise — and leave before dusk. Many have stopped planting maize altogether, fearing their harvests will be stolen. The military’s recent success isn’t just about numbers. It’s about restoring a sense of normalcy. One rescued woman from Wase told a Red Cross team: "I didn’t think I’d see my children again. I thought they’d be sold to another country." She was held for 19 days. Her children? Found alive, unharmed, in a camp near the Niger border. The Nigerian Army projects a 60% drop in banditry incidents in Wase, Gaya, and Karaye by January 31, 2026 — if current momentum holds. That’s not just a statistic. That’s 76 fewer families torn apart. That’s 1,200 more children returning to school. That’s farmers planting again without fear.
What’s Next? The Long Game
Yusuf has already scheduled a follow-up meeting with Major General Usman for November 12 — this time with the heads of the DSS and Police. But the real test begins after November 20. That’s when the Operation Safe Corridor Phase IV kicks off, targeting the last known enclaves in the Katsina-Kano forest reserves. These are the toughest pockets — where bandits have dug tunnels and stockpiled weapons. The Army says it’s using satellite imagery and AI-assisted pattern analysis to pinpoint them. But here’s the unspoken question: Will this last? Past operations in the North-West fizzled after headlines faded. The difference this time? Money, coordination, and political will are aligned. The Senate of Nigeria is watching. The Government of Kano State is funding it. And the troops? They’ve got ammunition, air support, and — for the first time in years — public trust.Frequently Asked Questions
How has the Nigerian Army changed its approach to banditry in Kano?
Unlike past operations that relied on large sweeps, the 1st Division now uses intelligence-led raids, drone surveillance, and community informants. Between October 15–31, 2025, they avoided civilian areas entirely, focusing on mapped hideouts. This precision reduced civilian casualties to zero — a first in five years.
What role does the Kano State Security Trust Fund play?
Established in March 2022, the fund has allocated ₦1.2 billion to support intelligence networks, mobile communication for patrols, and rapid-response vehicles. It’s not military funding — it’s civilian-backed support, often channeled through local leaders. This has built trust between communities and security forces, leading to more tips and fewer ambushes.
Why is Operation Safe Corridor Phase IV critical?
Phase IV targets the last major forest enclaves between Katsina and Kano — areas where bandits have stockpiled weapons, trained recruits, and held hostages for months. Previous phases cleared roads and towns; this one goes after the source. If successful, it could break the bandits’ logistical chain for good.
How will the 500 additional MOPOL officers be deployed?
They’ll be stationed at 12 key checkpoints along the Kano-Jigawa and Kano-Katsina borders by December 15, 2025. Each unit will be equipped with body cameras and satellite radios linked to the Army’s command center. Their job: prevent movement of stolen goods and intercept ransom payments — two key funding sources for bandits.
What’s been the public reaction in Kano?
In towns like Gaya and Karaye, residents have started returning to their farms. Markets reopened last week in areas that had been closed for over a year. Social media is flooded with videos of children returning to school — something unthinkable six months ago. The mood? Cautious hope.
Could this success be replicated in other states?
Yes — but only if other states follow Kano’s model: civilian-military coordination, dedicated funding, and community engagement. States like Zamfara and Sokoto have tried military-only approaches and failed. Kano’s blend of political will, local intelligence, and sustained funding is the blueprint others are now watching.
Ashish Bajwal
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