Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, and the Deputy President of the Senate, Barau I. Jibrin, have firmly rejected accusations from the Kano State Government that their comments are fuelling insecurity in the state.
Kano Government's Call for Arrest
On Friday, 29 November 2025, the Kano State Government, through its Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Abdullahi Ibrahim Waiya, called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of Dr. Ganduje. The government described the former governor's remarks on recent banditry attacks as "reckless" and alleged they had emboldened criminal elements, leading to further incursions.
Waiya, speaking after the 34th Executive Council Meeting, stated that statements from both Ganduje and Senator Barau were considered dangerous and capable of undermining the security efforts of both the state and the federal government led by President Tinubu.
Politicians Fire Back
In separate responses, the accused politicians turned the tables, urging the state government to stop politicising security matters. Speaking on behalf of Ganduje, his former Chief of Staff, Comrade Mohammed Garba, questioned the seriousness of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf's administration.
Garba criticized the governor for not visiting communities in Bagwai, Shanono, and Tsanyawa Local Government Areas that have suffered repeated bandit attacks. He contrasted this with Ganduje's tenure, claiming the former governor visited the notorious Falgore Forest over 20 times to directly confront security threats.
In his own defence, Senator Barau, via a statement from his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir, rejected the allegations as "false and malicious." He challenged the state government to produce any evidence of him making such incendiary statements, accusing it of a smear campaign.
"There was no time when Senator Barau uttered any statement capable of undermining security efforts," the statement read. It further urged Governor Yusuf to "wake up from slumber" and address the alleged misgovernance that has caused Kano to lose its prosperous status.
The Heart of the Controversy
The dispute intensified over Ganduje's specific comments, which suggested Kano was vulnerable to banditry and included a proposal to recruit 12,000 individuals into a planned religious police outfit known as Khairul Nas. The state government labelled this proposal an attempt to form an "illegal militia group."
Commissioner Waiya argued that Ganduje's remarks had a direct, negative impact, noting that less than 48 hours after the statement, suspected bandits infiltrated some border communities. He suggested the comments may have been "premeditated or linked to the assault" and described the conduct of the former governor as dangerous.
Despite the heated exchange, the commissioner reassured residents of the government's commitment to maintaining peace, law, and order across Kano, urging all public figures to avoid statements that could incite unrest.
