Kano Deputy Governor Warns Technology Gap, Community Deals With Bandits Worsening Nigeria’s Insecurity

Kano State’s Deputy Governor, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, says Nigeria’s worsening insecurity crisis is being fuelled by the country’s failure to deploy modern technology in the fight against crime — a gap that has allowed criminals to stay several steps ahead of security forces.

Gwarzo, who hosted members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Correspondents’ Chapel in Kano on Tuesday, said the situation has become so dire that some border communities have resorted to striking informal pacts with bandits to avoid being targeted.

According to him, criminal networks are increasingly using sophisticated tools and tactics, while security agencies remain constrained by outdated systems and inadequate intelligence-gathering capabilities.

The Deputy Governor described the rising fear across the country as alarming, noting that many Nigerians now think twice before travelling or carrying out daily activities due to uncertainty and fear of attack.

He disclosed that certain communities along Kano’s borders permit bandits safe passage because of the state’s inability to monitor movements effectively. “Some communities at the borders of Kano have even entered accords with bandits, allowing attacks to occur undetected,” he said.

Gwarzo urged journalists nationwide to amplify the urgency of the security situation and hold the government accountable for closing the technology gap that has emboldened criminal groups.

He stressed that confronting insecurity requires joint effort, stating, “It is our collective responsibility, together with the media, to confront these challenges.”