The Kano State Government has once again demanded the arrest of former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, accusing him of making statements capable of fuelling insecurity in the state.
The call followed the 34th State Executive Council meeting held on Wednesday, where the council reviewed recent comments attributed to the former governor and the Deputy Senate President, Barau I. Jibrin.
According to the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, the council believes Ganduje’s remarks were dangerous, inflammatory, and capable of destabilising the state.
He explained that the former governor’s alleged indication of setting up a 12,000-man religious police outfit known as Khairul Nas raised concerns within government circles, especially as bandits infiltrated some border communities shortly after the statements were made.
Waiya said the government viewed the remarks as a deliberate attempt to undermine ongoing security operations.
He stressed that the Yusuf administration, in collaboration with federal security agencies, has been making efforts to keep the state stable despite the complex security environment in the region.
The Information Commissioner added that the council has asked security authorities to immediately investigate and arrest Ganduje over what it described as an attempt to create an illegal militia group.
He cautioned prominent figures in the state to avoid utterances that could heighten tension or provoke unrest.
Waiya also reassured residents that the government remains committed to maintaining peace, protecting citizens, and sustaining cooperation with security operatives working across the state.
Reacting to the arrest call, Ganduje dismissed the allegations, describing the moves by the state government as baseless, reckless, and entirely political.
Through his media aide, he accused Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of using him as a scapegoat to cover what he called the administration’s growing failure to tackle insecurity.
He argued that several communities — including Bagwai, Shanono, and Tsanyawa — have been grappling with bandit incursions without receiving any attention or empathy from the state leadership.
The former governor insisted that he has never supported or initiated any action that could undermine the peace of Kano State.
He maintained that the allegations against him were fabricated to divert public attention from the government’s shortcomings.
In a separate reaction, the Deputy Senate President, Barau I. Jibrin, also rejected claims that his comments undermined ongoing security efforts.
He said the government should focus on addressing insecurity rather than issuing accusations without proof.
Barau challenged the state government to present evidence of any statement where he encouraged or incited threats to public safety, insisting that he has always advocated cooperation among stakeholders to address national security challenges.
However, the political tension in Kano continues to intensify, with both camps trading blame over insecurity in the state.
