Tension erupted on Monday in the Ƙofar Ruwa area of Kano State as residents blocked roads and set tyres ablaze, demanding the release of suspected bandits allegedly held at a local police station so they could confront them themselves.
Footage obtained by SaharaReporters showed thick smoke from burning tyres as a crowd voiced anger over the detention of suspected kidnappers. Eyewitnesses said the unrest escalated after learning the suspects were in police custody. One man is heard saying, “They brought kidnappers to Ƙofar Ruwa. People swore they would pull them out and kill them. That’s why police refused and even blocked the road with tyres.”
Police swiftly moved in to extinguish fires and disperse the crowd, restoring partial calm, though residents remained on edge. Authorities had not yet provided details on the suspects or the cause of the protest at the time of filing.
The unrest comes amid calls from the League of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Kano State for the depoliticization of security and the deployment of intelligence-led policing to curb rising banditry. In a November 30, 2025 statement, the CSOs described the growing insecurity as a “humanitarian and security monster,” highlighting increased kidnappings and criminal activity in southern and western Kano, particularly near Kaduna and Katsina borders.
The statement noted that criminals are exploiting dense forests such as Falgore as staging grounds, creating a “new corridor of terror” that threatens agriculture, displaces residents, and undermines community resilience. Small arms proliferation and the expansion of kidnap-for-ransom operations were cited as key factors worsening the security situation.
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