[Exclusive Interview] Community Policing Is Secret Of Our Success Story In Kano, Says CP Habu

Kano state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Habu Sani Ahmadu is a Reporter’s delight any day. His composure and mastery of crime-fighting tactics cum strategy speak volume of the secret behind his success story less than one year in Kano, though he hugely attributed his triumph over criminals and criminal activities in the state to Community Policing and Technology-based crime busting pattern.

Habu was born into the family of Alhaji Ahmadu Sani of KARHI Royal House, Hakimin Gidan Bango Gundumar Dinbiso, Wurno LGA of Sokoto State on 7th April, 1964. After the mandatory primary and secondary school education from 1971 to 1982, he attended the prestigious Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto where he obtained his B.sc (Education) in Geography from 1985-1990. Did his one year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) at GSSS, Ganye, Adamawa State (formerly Gongola) 1990/91.

He 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 Niger State Command as ACP Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (CIID). 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)

In 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 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 ISP’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.

Having followed his impressive track record in crime busting, a team of 247ureports.com Editors engaged him on his stewardship in policing Kano, with its peculiarities.

Excerpts:

What has been your experience fighting crime in Kano so far?

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.

What would you say has been the major challenge you have faced policing Kano?

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.

Historically, Kano had been a hotbed of religious/tribal conflicts where many deaths were recorded and properties lost. It adversely impacted Kano economy. How are you ensuring that the same does not occur again?

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.

On the national stage, there has been push towards Community Policing. Though you have been mentioning the strategy on the cause of this interview, we want to know how you have used Community Policing to achieve results while fighting crime in Kano?

Yes, 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.

How has the prevalence of the Corona Virus pandemic impacted Policing in Kano?

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.

At a point, cattle rustling became the major headache of the police in Kano, but was fought to a standstill. It is currently threatening a return. How is the battle against cattle rustling going?

Fighting 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.

How would you review your achievements for almost eight months in Kano?

Well, I wish to thank the Almighty 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. 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.

What is your advise to Kano residents?

First of all, I want to congratulate Kano residents for observing a peaceful and glorious Sallah celebrations. 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.