Kano task force arrests alleged gang sponsor in Port Harcourt
Kano Task Force Arrests Suspected Gang Financier
KANO, Nigeria — A 27-year-old man, identified as Ishaq Lawan Ibrahim, commonly known as Malam Keya, was apprehended by the Kano State Multi-Agency Task Force on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking for his alleged involvement in financing violent gang activities in the Dala Local Government Area.
Ibrahim, a resident of Yelwa in Dala, was captured in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, during an intelligence-led operation. He has since been returned to Kano for further investigation and potential prosecution.
The task force claims that Ibrahim has been instrumental in funding and coordinating gang violence that has resulted in fatalities and instilled fear among local residents. Following a surge in security operations targeting areas impacted by gang activities—namely Jakara, Madigawa, Yalwa, Sanka, Kul Kul, Dogon Nama, Kuka Bulukiya, Dala, Shatsari, and Dandalin Turawa—Ibrahim reportedly fled Kano.
According to a statement from the task force, operatives tracked Ibrahim to Port Harcourt, where he was arrested under the direction of Head of Operations CSP Bashir Gwadabe.
Task force chairman Muhuyi Magaji Rimin Gado confirmed the arrest, emphasizing that individuals believed to be financing such violence would be pursued regardless of their whereabouts. “Let me assure you that those who bankroll violence should know that no distance, and no hiding place, will protect them,” Rimin Gado stated, asserting that the agency would continue its efforts until peace is restored.
Ibrahim is currently in custody and will face prosecution upon completion of the ongoing investigation, which will adhere to legal protocols. The task force has called on community and religious leaders, as well as parents and youths, to aid security agencies by reporting suspicious activities and preventing youth recruitment into criminal organizations.
The statement concluded by reinforcing the notion that maintaining safety in Kano is a collective responsibility, urging the community to collaborate in reclaiming public safety. The task force also recognized the support received from the Kano and Rivers State Police Commands and other law enforcement bodies during the operation.
