A new commissioner of police posted to the ancient city of Kano has changed the narrative that given the will, the force can do well. BASHIR MOHAMMED writes that within one week of his resumption, the command arrested 950 miscreants, a feat never achieved.
How it all started
Anyone keeping a constant tab on the political developments in Kano will attest to the fact that it had enjoyed some semblance of stability as a result of various initiatives introduced by Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje before now, with interfaith dialogue among followers of the two major religions being part of that initiative.
The governor also saw the compelling need to support security agencies operating in all the nook and cranny of the state with patrol vehicles for effective surveillance and to also enable, especially the police, to reach any black spots without much ado.
It is therefore a known fact that in every election campaign, some undesirable elements often take solace in wreaking considerable havocs on innocent people, forgetting the fact that perpetrating such acts at the expense of peace is inimical to democracy under any guise.
Violent acts in the name of seeking peoples’ support during election had undoubtedly taken a severe toll on the nation in the past. This has led to loss of lives and destruction of property running into millions of naira, leaving in its wake agony, tribulation and sadness.
Kano, being a melting pot of politics, is one of the leading states embroiled in political turbulence in every election. Thugs, presumably on the prodding of some apologists using slush funds to cause incalculable havoc, took solace in violence unmindful of its consequences.
The role of the police in bursting crimes in a democratic setting cannot be over-emphasised as enshrined in the constitution. They are expected to be impartial and non-partisan under any guise.
When Wakili took over
Kano at the beginning of the 2019 elections campaign was mired in violent acts reportedly perpetrated by some heartless miscreants,however, with the recent redeployment of Alhaji Muhammad Wakili from Katsina command to Kano, there appeared to be great blessing on Kano people, considering the pace with which he pounced on black spots, leading to the arrest of 950 suspected hoodlums within eight days, a feat believed to be unprecedented in the history of the police in the state.
“Wakili, though humorous does not condone nonsense when dealing with perpetrators of heinous crimes. He is serious, tough and resolute in fighting criminality in any form, making the people to heave a sigh of relief that a messiah has been sent by God to bail them out of the hoodlum’s siege,” said a Kano resident, Abdullah Umar.
“He came on board to fulfil his mission in line with the responsibility entrusted on his shoulders by God who created him and told anyone who cared to listen that he is not in Kano to amass wealth”
In the views of Wakili, the responsibility of a policeman, according to him, is to protect lives and property, stressing that the force is not a political party.
He, therefore, made it clear that he would be consistent in raiding black spots in Kano metropolis and all the 44 local government areas.
Addressing members of Kano Election Peace Committee headed by a one time vice chancellor, Bayero University Kano Prof Ibrahim Umar, who paid him a visit, Wakili said it is the constitutional obligation of the police tt maintain law and order, hence the need for the command to live up to its billing.
According to him, on his assumption of office, the command had effected the arrest of about 950 suspected criminals hiding in various black spots. He added that sustaining the onslaught would remain his major cardinal thrust.
He pointed out that the menace of drug abuse among youths has become a recurring decimal and a disturbing phenomenon that must be checked headlong, positing that taking to drugs often breeds all forms of arson and criminal banditry. He affirmed that no stone would be left unturned in checkmating the excesses of those who believe that they can subvert the laws of the land and go scot free.
He said, “When I was the CP in Katsina state, I did my best in checking the excesses of drug abuse among youths and I achieved tremendous progress. This is what I am willing to achieve in Kano and I will, by the grace of God, achieve this goal.
“The menace of drug abuse is very disturbing to the society and every well- meaning individual is expected to join the crusade to fight it. We will be up and doing in tracking down the drug barons and dealers importing the illicit drugs for the war to be feasible and sustained.”
He used the visit to assure leaders of various ethnic communities in Kano that his command has taken all the necessary steps to ensure that their safety is guaranteed before and after the general elections, stressing that every Nigerian is free to live where he or she chooses to live without any impediment. He pointed out that it is the responsibility of the police to ensure that all citizens are adequately protected under the law.
Speaking earlier, the chairman of the committee, Prof Umar said they were in his office to keep him posted on the main mission of the committee and to aals solicit his support in dealing with cases bordering on crimes or breach of peace during election. He stressed that without the cooperation of security agencies, the effort of the committee would come to naught.
However, with Wakili’s red card to those who believed that they can commit any crime and go away, the feat achieved by him in a jiffy, has elicited commendations from notable stakeholders.
Reactions
Reacting to Wakili’s record-breaking feat, a concerned Kano resident, Malam Ado Dakata said the time had come for everyone to appreciate the fact that Kano is now secure and that it behoves on everyone to support the police chief in order to achieve the mandate of ridding the city of crimes.
According to him, “It is most disgusting for one to be inundated with fear in the face of the day light armed robbery committed by miscreants who have no regard to the sanctity of human lives, spilling the blood of innocent people in addition to robbing them of their belongings with impunity.” He added that area boys style of robbing commuters, motorists and even pedestrians crossing the roads, is a new trend to Kano people.
“We should be grateful to God for endowing us with a man of high integrity and the capacity to restore peace in Kano within a short span. We are really pacified by his entreaty that he was ever ready to face criminals wherever they operate by promising to sustain his command’s onslaught on their black spots.”
In the words of one Shehu Zagadi whose cell-phone was snatched away from him shortly after attending a political rally of one of the parties, “Criminals are having a field day in a cosmopolitan city like Kano. The arrival of Wakili as the new commissioner of police and the measures he had taken to put criminals in check had greatly gingered my confidence.”
The overriding opinion of notable stakeholders in the state is that no criminal can flout the law or inflicted grievous harm and go scot free predicating such a belief on the premise that with Wakili in the saddle as CP, no undesirable element would ever have a field day.
