Bandit Attack: Ganduje Condemns Incident in Kano as Police Strengthen Ekiti Borders

Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress and ex-Governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, has condemned the recent bandit attacks in Shanono and Tsanyawa Local Government Areas, which left three people dead and several women and children abducted.

In a statement on Wednesday issued by his former Chief of Staff and ex-Commissioner for Information, Muhammad Garba, Ganduje described the attacks as “tragic, painful, and deeply distressing,” warning that the raids represent “a direct assault on communal peace and social stability.”

He extended condolences to the bereaved families and affected communities, emphasizing that the trauma caused by the incidents requires urgent support and coordinated intervention from all stakeholders.

Ganduje called on the Kano State Government to implement proactive, intelligence-driven, and community-based security strategies, cautioning that the situation “is assuming a worrisome proportion that cannot be ignored.” He urged the government to draw on security models used during his administration (2015–2023), including strengthened vigilance groups, community policing, intelligence sharing, close coordination among security agencies, and development-focused crime prevention initiatives.

He noted that such measures had previously helped curb rural banditry, deter urban crime, and maintain relative stability in the state during his tenure.

Ganduje also praised the governments of Niger, Kwara, Kebbi, and other states for their “effective and decisive handling” of similar security challenges, commending their swift response and strong community engagement. He acknowledged President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to modernising the armed forces and strengthening the national security framework, describing current initiatives as demonstrating “strong political will and clear determination to secure the country.”

He urged residents of the affected areas to remain calm but vigilant and to cooperate with security agencies by providing timely information. “Addressing insecurity requires collective responsibility and synergy among citizens, traditional institutions, government authorities, and security agencies,” the statement added. Ganduje reassured the people of Shanono and Tsanyawa that leaders remain committed to supporting security efforts in their communities.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in Ekiti State, Joseph Eribo, announced on Wednesday that the command had intensified security across the state, particularly at border towns, schools, places of worship, key infrastructure, and known black spots.

This followed a viral social media video in which a man—suspected to be a bandit—claimed an impending attack on Ekiti State University and Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere Ekiti.

However, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Sunday Abutu, clarified that investigations revealed the video was Artificial Intelligence–generated and designed to create panic. Abutu urged residents to disregard the “fabricated rumour,” continue law-abiding behaviour, and promptly report any suspicious activity to the police through emergency contact numbers.

On Tuesday, EKSU management had also assured students and staff that the campus remains secure and that security agencies and the university’s security unit are on high alert.

Additionally, the Alawe of Ilawe Ekiti, Oba Adebanji Alabi, dismissed claims on social media of a bandit attack on a farmstead in his community, confirming that no such incident occurred. He noted that security agents and local vigilantes at entry and exit points remain fully operational and urged residents to carry on with daily activities without fear.