An open letter to His Excellency, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, on the security situation in Kano, by
Engr. Bello Gwarzo Abdullahi, FNSE
Your Excellency,
Please permit the liberty of presenting this appeal openly, as the urgency of the moment demands candour and collective reflection. Our nation is navigating a period of profound strain, as security threats, economic pressures, and social tensions are testing every layer of governance. Kano, with its historic place as the commercial heartbeat of the North and a state known for its cosmopolitan character, resilience, and forward-thinking approach to problem-solving, cannot afford complacency. Your prompt response to the Shanono incident and the proactive measures currently being put in place reflect this awareness and are commendable.
Yet, Your Excellency is well aware that in the entire North-West geopolitical zone, only Kano and Jigawa have maintained relative stability amid widespread banditry, kidnappings, and abductions. This advantage, however, is increasingly being threatened. The recent incidents in Shanono and Rimin Gado Local Government Areas are early warning signs—subtle but unmistakable. They suggest that the creeping wave of insecurity is drawing nearer, probing the boundaries of the peace Kano is known for.
Sir, this is precisely why the present moment calls for heightened vigilance and a renewed, strategically coordinated response. Kano has always been a state of firsts—first in mobilisation, first in building alliances, first in crafting homegrown solutions that others study and adopt. It is time to activate that same spirit through what I humbly refer to as the “Kano Formula.”
Under your leadership, the Kano Formula should serve as a structured model for prevention, early warning, and sustained community-driven security. It requires assembling key stakeholders—religious leaders, traditional rulers, political actors across the spectrum, technocrats, business leaders, youth groups, security agencies, and the private sector. Kano’s enduring strength has always been collective wisdom and collective action; now is the time to consolidate that power once more.
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In doing so, it is also essential to examine why security interventions in states like Katsina and others struggled to deliver lasting results. Learning from those shortcomings will allow Kano to craft innovative, practical, and implementable strategies that stand a better chance of success.
Your Excellency, the objective is simple but urgent: To ensure that Kano remains a fortress of stability in a region under pressure, and to prevent isolated incidents from growing into entrenched insecurity.
A proactive, consultative, and coordinated security framework—anchored by your office—will reassure citizens, deter criminal elements, and reinforce Kano’s reputation as a state that anticipates threats rather than reacts after the damage is done.
With the deepest respect, I appeal to Your Excellency to consider elevating the current security response, initiating broader stakeholder engagements, and institutionalising a Kano-led security template that could serve as a model for the entire country.
May Allah guide your leadership and preserve the peace and prosperity of our dear state.
Written by
Engr. Bello Gwarzo Abdullahi, FNSE.
Email: bgabdullahi@gmail.com
23 November 2025
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