From Maduabuchi Nmeribeh, Kano
Last year November, when the immediate-past Kano state Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Illyasu was promoted to the rank of Assistant Inpector-General (AIG) of Police and was moved to man Zone 2, Lagos, there were mixed feelings over the capacity and capability of his successor. But taking over the baton from AIG Illyasu, Commissioner of Police, Mr. Habu Sani Ahmadu, proved his onions as he solidly built on the legacies of his predecessor, introducing the finest crime-fighting tactics that has continued to pay off in the fight against crime and criminality in Kano, with its peculiarity as the most populous state in the country, and indeed, the commercial hub of northern Nigeria and neighboring African countries.
Indeed, AIG Illyasu, while leaving Kano state Police Command, was confident that the security architecture he had put in place while policing Kano, was not only going to be maintained, but would be strengthened and improved upon by his successor. Little wonder that on February 9, 2020, when officers and men of Kano state police Command organized a hilarious send-forth party for AIG Illyasu, he did not mince words expressing his unalloyed confidence in his successor when he described him as, “a professional crime-buster,” who has worked with him in different capacities and proved his onions. AIG Illyasu added that his greatest joy was that CP Habu was building on the good legacies he left behind, “I can say that one can rely on CP Habu because we have worked together and we are still working together as brothers.”
In less than one year in Kano, CP Habu has used clear-cut crime fighting strategies to not only protecting lives and property, but also ensuring peaceful co-existence and harmonious relationship among Nigerians and non-Nigerians from different socio-religious background.
Speaking on his experience in policing Kano, he said: “As you are aware, Kano is the commercial nerve centre of Northern Nigeria; and the most populated state in Nigeria. Since my assumption of duty in Kano State on the 21 November, 2019, as the 41st Commissioner of Police, I drew an Action Plan for efficient result-oriented crime fighting efforts. Some of which include, but not limited to: Sustained Puff-Adder Operations, Robust Community Policing Engagements, Community Problem Solving Approaches, Evidence-based and Intelligence-driven Investigations, utilization of Technology in execution of our policing mandate, and the launch of the Campaign against Thuggery (Daba), as well as curbing the menace of Drug Abuse and other vices. These approaches boosted public partnership, public trust and confidence on the Police and its policing activities to the effect that many successes/achievements were recorded in the fight against all forms of crimes and criminality in the State. It is indeed a rewarding and impressive experience.
Identifying his challenges in the cause of fighting crime in Kano, he said: “I came to Kano when there were threats of banditry, kidnappings and armed robberies along border towns, especially, the frontline border Local Government Areas. I was also confronted with the continuous public outcry about missing children in the state. but with the strategies put in place, missing of children in Kano is now a history. Also, with our strategic deployments of both human and material assets, robust Community Policing Engagements, as well as, synergy with other sister-security agencies, we were able to secure our borders from the influx of bandits from neighboring states and contiguous locations. However, the accessibility problems especially in the Falgore areas remained the major challenge that must be viewed seriously.”
The Police boss, while reviewing his stewardship so far in Kano in a recent interview, also revealed how he has ensured that the religious/tribal conflicts hitherto experienced in the commercial city would become a thing of the past. According to him, “the major focus of the present-administration under the adroit leadership of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Muhammad Abubakar Adamu, NPM, mni is Community Policing; and this was fully adopted in Kano where all stakeholders are being engaged. Channels of intelligence gatherings were modified and intensified. Forums Such as Inter-Faith Peace Foundation (IPF) and Inter-Faith Dialogue are properly being utilized. Council of Ulama and Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kano state chapter and all religious/tribal leaders were fully engaged in the Command’s problem solving discourse. They are also part of the Community Policing Committees at State Command, Area Commands, Local Government Areas and Divisional Headquarters.
“So, I assure you that Kano is peaceful and Kano will remain peaceful irrespective of ethno-religious differences. I also commend the state Governor, His Excellency, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje for his commitment towards this direction.
He also emphasized that the adoption of community policing strategy has positively impacted on yielding results in combating crime in Kano, pointing out that, “Community Policing is working and has taken a centre stage in contemporary policing, and hence its practice in Kano is not an exception. It is worth noting that, Community Policing is collaboration between the Police and the Community that identifies and solves Community problems. The achievements recorded so far, is as a result of the exploit of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Muhammad Abubakar Adamu, NPM, mni Community Policing Policy, as a result of Intensified Community Policing Engagements. So, we are adequately utilizing community policing and it giving us the needed results here in Kano.”
He also spoke on how his Command carried on with the responsibility of fighting crime and maintaining peace and order in the state even in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, stressing that, “the Corona Virus, otherwise called Covid-19 pandemic has, to some extent, affected the Command’s manpower deployments due to enforcement of Total Lock Down, including Inter-State travel ban and restriction of movement, which though, have been lifted. However, despite such engagements, the Police Command has continued to sustain its crime fighting efforts. Consequently, deployments were made to 17 identified frontline Local Government Areas and 126 points across the remaining 27 Local Government Areas to effectively checkmate the activities of criminal elements that may want to take advantage of the pandemic to carry out their nefarious activities.”
He also spoke passionately on his efforts in tackling Cattle rustling and other criminal activities identified across the dreaded Falgore Forest axis, pointing out that, “fghting all forms of criminal activities in the state is a continuous process. From our review of crimes, the potential areas for Cattle Rustling and concealment of Rustled Cattle are Falgore Forest, the bordering Lame-Burra Forest of Bauchi and Plateau States and the extension of Falgore Forest on the Kaduna axis as well as other contagious areas along Kano-Katsina and Kano-Jigawa with vegetational advantage for the Cattle Rustlers to operate or conceal rustled Cattles.
“We have been carrying out clearance operations in these areas to contain the threats of not only Cattle Rustling but other forms of crimes that are peculiar to these terrains. Deployments were made in these areas and a lot of successes were achieved. 17 Cattle-Rustling Suspects were arrested and prosecuted and 542 Cows were recovered. Owners of the cows were identified and their Cows returned to them through the State Task Force on recovered rustled livestock.”
In a capsule review of his achievements since he assumed duty as Kano state Commissioner of Police, the Police boss thanked God, “for giving us the grace to record modest achievements here in Kano. This could not have been possible without the full support and encouragement we receive from the Inspector General of Police, Muhammad Abubakar Adamu NPM, mni. We also appreciate the support and encouragment of the state Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.”
He further stated that, “since I assumed duty in Kano, we have arrested 91 kidnapping suspects and 140 armed robbery suspects. We have also secured the release and freedom of 27 abduction victims and six kidnapped victims. We also rescued 25 trafficking victims. Moreso, 29 fraudsters were arrested; 53 drug dealers were arrested; 1, 857 thugs (Yan Daba) were also arrested; 17 Cattle Rustling suspects were also arrested; and 53 motor vehicles, tricycles, motorcycles and bicycle thieves were also arrested. Moreso, over 542 cows were recovered; 57 different caliber of riffles, including 15 AK-47 riffles were recovered. 1, 758 different categories of live ammunition and cartridges were also recovered. 1, 785 matchets, 64-pointed rods and 412 clubs were recovered. Eighty six motor vehicles, 13 tricycles, 42 motorcycles and six bicycles were recovered.
“Also, over 667 mobile handsets were recovered. Seven hundred and fifty two brand new stolen motor vehicles tyres valued at N15, 000, 00.00; 56 bags and 1, 689 parcels of Indian Hemp valued at N19, 780, 000 were recovered. Eleven cartons and 59 bottles of Codiene Expectorant valued at N961, 550.00 were recovered. Tramadol valued at N2, 400,000.00; 11 drums of Suck-And-Die; 518 cartons of other assorted intoxicating and illicit drugs were also recovered.”
He, however, advised congratulated Kano residents for observing a peaceful Sallah celebrations, adding that, “I urge them to remain law-abiding. They should also be mindful of the COVID-19 pandemic and abide by the protocols. For criminals and hoodlums, I urge them to shun their unpatriotic activities or be ready to face the wrath of the law.”
CP Habu joined the Nigeria Police Force as Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police and did his training at Police Academy Annex Kaduna from 18th May, 1992. Since then, he occupied various positions and posts in the Nigeria Police Force both within and outside Nigeria. His various postings took him to serve as Divisional Crime Officer (DCO) Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and Officer In-charge of Intelligence Bureau in various states of the Federation which includes: Jigawa, Kebbi Cross-river and Niger States as well as Ports Authority Police Command Officer In-Charge ZIB Zone 6 Calabar and Facilitator/Course Officer at the Police Intelligence School, Enugu.
He served in United Nations Peace-Keeping Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) as training coordinator in Bentiu Team Site, South Sudan, 2006-2007.
As an Assistant Commissioner of Police, he was posted to Niger State Command as ACP Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (CIID). He was later transferred to Force Headquarters Abuja, got promoted and headed the Technical Intelligence Unit (TIU) as Deputy Commissioner of Police In-charge of the Unit ie (TIU).
Acknowledging his handwork and Successes recorded in the fight against Crimes and Criminality across the Country, he was posted to head IGP- Monitoring Unit at Force Headquarters Abuja and promoted to the rank of Commissioner of Police. The office is directly responsible for supervision and coordination of sensitive Intelligence and special tactical operational outfits as well as referred investigations of the Nigeria Police Force through the IGP’s office. Some supervised and coordinated outfits include, the Technical Intelligence Unit (TIU), Analytical Tracking and Interception Centre (ATIC), Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Special Tactical Squad (STS), Terrorism Investigation Bureau (TIB) among other duties and responsibilities.
Prior to his posting to Bauchi Command, he was the Commissioner of Police, Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB) FHQ Abuja and at the same time Deputy Coordinator of the intelligence arm of Operation Puff Adder that was recently launched by the Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, NPM,mni, to checkmate crimes across the country.
He attended many courses, seminars and workshops both within and outside Nigeria, some of which includes but not limited to the following: central Planning and Training Unit (CPTU) at Police Staff College, Jos; Intermediate Command Course at Police Staff College, Jos; Advance Criminal Intelligence Analyst Course at Nigerian Army Intelligence School Tego Lagos; Advance Intelligence Processing Course; Technical Intelligence Management Methodology Course;ITF, Management Workshop; False Document and Border Police Technique course in Cesena Italy.
He also attended the following courses at United Nations Institute for Training and Research programme of Correspondence Instruction (USA): Global Terrorism; International Humanitarian Law and Law of Armed Conflict; Mines Action, Humanitarian Impact, technical Aspect and global initiative; Peacekeeping and International Conflict Resolution; The Conduct of Humanitarian Relief Operations: Principles of Intervention and Management and 11 other courses under same institute.
He is a member of professional bodies such as: Fellow of Institute of Cooperate Administration (FCAI).
CP Habu Sani is a recipient of many certificates of commendations and awards, both within and outside the country due to his hard work and selfless service such as: United Nations Peace Keeping Service Medal (UNMIS) Sudan; United Nations Commissioner of Police’s commendation for training the local police in Bentiu South Sudan; AIG’s Letter of commendation for dedication to duty tenacity of purpose, timely and graphic intelligence report; AIG’s letter of commendable service to the Nigeria Police; Best DPO of the year award in Jigawa State 2001.
A seasoned Police Officer, CP Habu Sani Ahmadu has successfully supervised and Coordinated Tactical and Intelligence Response Team Operations which led to the arrest of high profile criminals and recovery of large cache of arms and ammunition.
