A wave of brutal killings of women and children in Kano and other states has continued to generate concerns about public safety and security.
Many believe the safety of women and children has been badly affected by weak public safety systems, poor community vigilance, unprofessional neighbourhood watch groups, poor attention by security agencies, decline of the extended family system, and a growing neglect of household security.
The recent killing of women and their children by violent youths has equally drawn attention to social neglect, deep-rooted problems, and the weakening of traditional institutions.
DAILY POST observes a growing influence of youth gangs in Kano State that has now become a major concern.
Recall that in the last few months, many women have been killed across different parts of the state including Fatima Abubakar and her six children at Chiranchi Dorayi, a pregnant woman and her toddler child burnt to death at Sheka Sabuwar Gandu and a woman, her co-wife and three children wiped out in Kano.
So far, the Kano police command said suspects arrested for the recent murder of Fatima Abubakar and her children have admitted to the murders across the state while investigation continues.
Reacting, a criminology and security expert at the Federal University Dutse, Dr. Suleiman Isyaku Muhammad, said the worsening security situation was a result of the collapse of traditional security systems and community structures.
He told DAILY POST that, “The deformation of the traditional security architecture in Kano State is playing a significant role in the deteriorating public safety situation.”
He explained that factors such as rapid urbanisation, the move from extended family living to nuclear families, and weak neighbourhood initiatives have all contributed to the decline of traditional security arrangements.
“Initially, communities had their own ways of monitoring and regulating who lived in their areas. This assessment is no longer there,” he said.
He added that depending mainly on formal security agencies like the police is not enough because of their limited manpower, resources, and welfare.
“It’s not possible for the police to provide security for everybody, even in advanced nations,” Dr. Muhammad noted, pointing to poor funding, weak infrastructure, and low morale among security personnel.
Although the Kano State government spends large amounts on security every year, many residents say the impact is not felt, especially in local government areas outside the state capital.
The recent killings, Dr. Muhammad said have again pointed out the urgent need for effective community policing, stronger neighbourhood watch programmes, and the revival of traditional security systems.
He urged authorities to fix these security gaps and protect citizens, especially vulnerable groups such as women and children.
Muhammad also stressed that responding only after crimes have been committed shows weakness in the security system and called for more preventive and proactive measures.
“Local security chapters are deforming without empirical and workable proactive security frameworks in Kano State.
“Corruption and mismanagement of security funds are major challenges to meaningful development in the nation,” he added.