The Kano State Police Command has intensified its fight against street crime with the arrest of 15 suspects during a series of coordinated raids under the special operation code-named Operation Kukan Kura.

The arrests were carried out on July 26, 2025, across crime-prone areas in Sheka, Ja’oji, and Kurna quarters in the state capital. Among those apprehended is 28-year-old Mu’azu Barga, a suspected leader of several violent robbery gangs operating in the metropolis.

Police say the suspects, aged between 14 and 28, were found in possession of four stolen mobile phones linked to recent robbery cases. They have reportedly confessed to various street crimes, including phone snatching, theft, and gang violence.

In a statement, Police Public Relations Officer SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa confirmed the arrests and noted that investigations are ongoing. “The suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigation,” he said.

The raid was part of a wider effort launched by the Command to tackle rising street crime and enforce public safety directives from the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun.

Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, PhD, emphasized the Command’s unwavering stance on eliminating criminal elements in the state.

“We are declaring total war on thuggery and all forms of criminality in Kano,” he said.

Operation Kukan Kura is one of several community-focused policing strategies aimed at proactively preventing violence and ensuring peace in Kano neighborhoods.

Residents are encouraged to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity as the police continue their mission to make Kano safer for all.