A police officer serving at Hotoro Division in Kano has been shot dead during clashes between rival gangs. Sani S.O. was killed just weeks before he would have retired after more than 30 years on the force.
He was deployed with colleagues to stop fighting between two groups of thugs when gunfire broke out. One of the gangs allegedly had a dane gun and opened fire on the officer.
According to someone who knew him, the officer was rushed to hospital but died from his injuries. The source, who asked not to be named, described him as a respected community figure.
"He was a good person who contributed greatly to society," the source told Daily Trust. "He was weeks away from retirement when this happened."
Police authorities have not yet commented on the incident. Calls and text messages to state police spokesperson CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa went unanswered at press time.
Kano has seen a spike in gang violence recently across multiple neighborhoods. Areas like Fagge, Abattoir Market, Koki, Kurnar Asabe, Hotoro and Gyadi-Gyadi have all been affected in recent weeks.
Some districts hadn't experienced such clashes before this resurgence. Security officials worry the trend could worsen as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections.
Gang violence typically increases during election seasons in Nigeria. Political tensions and electoral campaigns often fuel such activities in major cities.
