The Kano State Multi-Agency Task Force on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking has arrested a 27-year-old man, Ishaq Lawan Ibrahim, popularly known as Malam Keya, over allegations of financing violent gang clashes in Dala Local Government Area of Kano State.
The suspect, who hails from Yelwa in Dala, was reportedly apprehended in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, following an intelligence-driven operation. He has since been brought back to Kano to face further investigation and possible prosecution.
According to the task force, Ibrahim is suspected of sponsoring and coordinating gang activities that have resulted in fatalities and heightened insecurity in affected communities. The agency said he fled Kano after security operations were intensified in areas affected by recurring gang clashes.
The communities identified include Jakara, Madigawa, Yalwa, Sanka, Kul Kul, Dogon Nama, Kuka Bulukiya, Dala, Shatsari and Dandalin Turawa. The task force disclosed that its operatives traced the suspect to Port Harcourt, where he was arrested in an operation led by the Head of Operations, CSP Bashir Gwadabe.
Reacting to the development, the chairman of the task force, Muhuyi Magaji Rimin Gado, warned individuals suspected of sponsoring violence that security agencies would continue to pursue them, regardless of where they sought refuge.
“Let me assure you that those who bankroll violence should know that no distance, and no hiding place, will protect them,” Rimin Gado said.
He further described the arrest as the beginning of sustained efforts to address gang-related violence in the state, adding that the task force would remain committed to restoring peace and security.
The agency stated that Ibrahim remains in custody and would be prosecuted upon the conclusion of investigations, assuring the public that the process would be conducted in accordance with the law.
It also called on residents, community and religious leaders, parents and young people to cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information about suspicious activities and discouraging the recruitment of youths into criminal gangs.
“The safety of Kano is a shared responsibility, and together we will reclaim our streets and secure the future of our state,” the statement added.
The task force also acknowledged the contributions of the Kano and Rivers State Police Commands, alongside other law enforcement agencies, whose support facilitated the operation.