…Radio stations fighting back
A deadly wave of machete attacks, phone snatching, and gang killings has gripped Kano, sparking fear and outrage.
Victims include: Sadiq Shu’iabu Gentle, a senior reporter to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, who died after a machete assault in Ƙwalwa Quarters, and Abdullahi Umar Hafizi, a Bayero University student stabbed in Ɗorayi Karama by phone thieves.
Residents say neighbourhoods like Sheka, Rijiyar Lemo, Kurna, Yakasai, and Ɗorayi have become danger zones, with gangs attacking in broad daylight.
However, Cool FM, Wazobia FM, and Arewa Radio have teamed up for “Our Security, Our Right,” a campaign pressuring authorities and teaching residents safety tips. The stations air daily programmes with security experts, victims, and officials, urging listeners to report attacks and name hotspots.
Arewa Radio news chief, AbdulRahaman Balarabe Isah says the aim is to “make security everyone’s business”.
Police have intensified ‘Operation Kukan Kura’, arresting 200 suspects in a month and recovering weapons. Those accused in Hafizi’s murder are among them. The government has deployed over 1,000 security operatives to 52 hotspots.
Civil Defence spokesman, Ibrahim Idris Abdullahi warns that there will be “no more out-of-court settlements” for offenders.
Some citizens now call for Sharia-based punishments, while others stress that lasting peace depends on justice, enforcement, and youth reform.
For many Kano residents, the message is clear — in this fight, radio is more than entertainment; it’s a lifeline.
