The news of the murder of a senior police officer, CSP Baba Ali Muhammed, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Rano local government area of Kano state, has been circulating widely. Reports from various media outlets have described how the incident occurred, which has sparked outrage among youths in the area, leading them to engage in destructive activities.
In a statement, the Kano state police command said that the incident occurred after a young man named Abdullahi Musa, a motorcycle repairer, was arrested at around 8:15 pm on May 25, 2025. He was arrested based on a complaint filed at the police station that he was reckless while riding his motorcycle in town and was suspected of being under the influence of drugs.
After his arrest, the police noticed that he was not in his right state of mind, so he was rushed to the Rano General Hospital, where he died the next day at around 6 am on May 26. Following the news of his death, some angry youths attacked the police station, vandalised vehicles, set fire to parts of the building, and stole some equipment.
During the violent protest, the DPO was injured and rushed to the hospital for treatment, where he later died. The incident has caused unrest in Rano, and the police have announced the arrest of 27 suspects believed to be involved in the violence, while investigations are ongoing.
Undoubtedly, this incident is unacceptable, and it is wrong for some youths to think they are above the law and take matters into their own hands by vandalising government property and attacking police officers. This is not something that should be taken lightly, and community leaders in the area should not sleep with their eyes closed, as it is a sign of neglect and a significant security challenge in the region.
If a senior security officer can be attacked in such a manner, then the situation is dire. However, this is not the first time that some unruly youths have engaged in such violent acts against the police, alleging mistakes in the performance of their duties or due to personal grievances, as seen during the #EndSARS protests.
According to a report by Premium Times on October 30, 2020, the then-Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, stated that at least 22 police officers were killed, and many others were seriously injured, while 205 police stations were burnt across the country. This incident occurred due to the anger and frustration of Nigerian youths over human rights abuses by some rogue police officers.
It led to a significant security gap and damaged the reputation and dignity of the police force. However, due to the professionalism and expertise of the police leadership at the time, the situation was eventually brought under control. Nevertheless, the Nigeria Police Force is still grappling with the challenges of inadequate personnel and equipment.
The resurgence of attacks on police stations by unruly youths in some parts of the country is a major concern, especially when we are already facing the threat of Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast, banditry in the Northwest, and attacks by Niger Delta militants and IPOB secessionists on security officers and police stations.
If some youths with reckless abandon can attack police officers and stations, it is a cause for concern. On May 21, the Tribune reported that some youths in Kwadon, Gombe state, attacked a police station and injured the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Adamu Alhaji Idi, who was hospitalised at the Federal Teaching Hospital in Gombe.
Furthermore, on April 17, 2025, some unruly youths killed a police officer, SC Ahmed Muhammad, 28, who was on duty with other officers on patrol in the Kumbiya-Kumbiya Quarters of Gombe.
In March 2025, some armed youths attacked police stations in Enugu state, killing one officer, Emmanuel Akpa, who was serving under the Awgu Police Division. Reports indicated that the attackers struck the station at around 2 am, freeing detainees and stealing important firearms. Some reports even suggested that two police officers were killed.
Last year in Bauchi state, there were reports confirming the brutal killing of a police officer, Ibrahim Naziru Musa, attached to the Mobile Police (Mopol 10), as a result of an attack by some youths in the Sarakuna area of Bauchi metropolis. Wikki Times reported that Naziru Ibrahim later died in the hospital due to severe injuries inflicted by the youths.
This trend continues, and there is much to be analysed, especially by the police authorities. It is imperative to take stringent measures to protect police stations and enhance their self-defense capabilities. Providing them with additional training on how to improve their performance and protect their lives, as well as improving their relationship with the public, is crucial.
There are indications that some of these attacks are carried out in retaliation or as revenge for previous incidents involving the police.