The Commisdioner of police, Kano state command CP Muhammad Usaini Gumel while commemorating his one year anniversary has launched School Protection Squad (SPS).

Aim of the Squard according to Gumel is to instill proactive measures to ensure protection of students from evil invaders who kidnapped pupils.

He explained that the launching of the Squad by the Nigerian Police Force is the initiative of the Inspector-General of Police IGP Kayode Ebegtokim with the objective of adequately providing safe environment for schooling, students, their teachers as well as the schools facilities and their critical infrastructures.

The SPS, comprised of sixty adequately trained police personnels who are provided with the necessary kits and tools for the task.

The Squard have been dispatched to intensify robust patrols around all primary and secondary schools, including all vulnerable tertiary institutions in all locations across each senatorial districts of the state.

The Commissioner while unveiling his landmark achievements in one year revealed that, “as a result of employing robust security strategies couple with community policing approache, the Command received and profiled a total of 623 repentant thugs, took them off the streets and are currently transitioning them away from life of crime.

Some of them have been engaged by the State Government practicing various life-changing empowerment programs.

The Command have arrested and prosecuted more than 3,000 suspected criminals with offenses that ranged from kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery, human trafficking, illicit drug dealings, thuggery and other social vices.

On assumption of office as commissioner of police in the State on the 2nd of May, last year, Gumel said he was aware that communities in the State have had their fair share of security challenges, especially the menace of daylight and nighttime mobile phone armed robbery, thuggery, farmers and herders clashes and other violent criminal activities.

“Other heinous crimes include kidnapping, the threat of infiltration of bandits along border LGAs, especially Falgore and Dansoshiya forests, the buying and selling of minors, motor vehicle theft, cross-border organized crimes and illicit drug dealings, among others.”

After reviewing the crime pattern and conducted crime mapping of the State, he drew up action plan which centered around robust community policing engagements with relevant stakeholders, synergizing with the military and other security agencies, and the use of both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches.

“It is through these collective efforts that we succeeded in fighting and bringing down the wave of crime and criminality in the State.”

The Command have strengthened its Public Relations Unit and instructed the personnel to engage strongly with the local community and apply strategic communication through television, radio, and other media channels to raise public awareness about the Police Command’s activities, the consequences of crime, and to seek co-operation for promoting the peace.

Within the same period, the Command have achieved some significant strides by flushing out criminals who occupied the historic Dala Hill, who used it as a hideout and turning it into an enclave from where they launch mayhem and various criminal activities.

The criminals not only attempted to destroy a major symbol of Kano’s history but almost destroyed a world-class tourist attraction, a source of wealth creation and revenue generation.

Thus far, the intervention of the Police Command has made the historic site safe and secure for all residents of the area and visitors.

In addition to our efforts in combating crime, the Command actively participated in numerous community policing programs for example embarking on visitations to Makoda, Gaya, Kiru, and Gwale LGA’s of the State.

This approach helped improve the Police-community relationship and combat the long time Farmers/Herders clashes that have existed for more than 40 years in Makoda LGA.

The Inter and Intra party clashes amongst the two dominants political parties – APC and NNPP in Gaya LGA, incidences of kidnapping around Kwanar Dangora and resurgence of thuggery activities in Gwale LGA were all restored.

In furtherance to the community policing engagement, we organized community policing programs, including friendly football matches with repentant thugs, involving stakeholders such as members of the Kano Chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kannywood, Tik-Tockers, and others.

This approach has now bridged the gap between the Police and the Community, leading to better information sharing and cooperation in fighting crime.

The Police Command, in collaboration with the Kano Branch of the Magistrates Association of Nigeria (MAN), have organized the first and second editions of capacity building workshops aimed at equipping Police investigators, and equipped them with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively navigate the intricacies of the Kano State Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL).

The Command also conducted some inter-agency’s training sessions on Fire Safety in collaboration with the Federal Fire Service. Others include, Cyber Security Training.

In line with the provisions of Force Order No. 20 as amended relating to the effective implementation of the Police Duty Solicitor Scheme (PDSS), the Advisory Committee of the Scheme was inaugurated on 6th February 2024 by the Kano State Police Command and supported by the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (ROLAC) project.

The launch of the committee marked a significant milestone in enhancing legal representation for individuals coming into contact with the Criminal Justice System in Kano State.

The PDSS Advisory Committee which it’s membership were drawn from the institutions of the Police, Judiciary, Ministry of Justice, Legal Aid Council, National Human Rights Commission, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Nigeria Correctional Service, and Civil Society among others.

The committee conducted a comprehensive two-day visit to various detention facilities and justice sectors, consisting of 4 selected Police Stations, two Correctional Centers, including one Remand Home, and three Court Complexes of Magistrates of the Shari’ah, and High Courts between 5th and 6th February 2024. The primary objective of this initiative was to ensure the effective implementation of the scheme