Abba Yusuf, governor of Kano, says some individuals in the country are exploiting Nigeria’s security challenges for political gain.

Yusuf spoke in Lagos on Tuesday at a national conference organised by the Nigerian Human Rights Community (NHRC), with the theme “Building a fractured nation.”

Represented by Issa Katere, Kano state commissioner for transportation, the governor said Nigeria is currently facing “grave security challenges” that require collective responsibility and cooperation between government and citizens.

According to him, security must be a shared responsibility, with government providing leadership and direction.

Regrettably, there are unpatriotic individuals who exploit these challenges for political gain, undermining collective efforts, especially those of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to combat the escalating threat of insecurity,” Yusuf said.

He noted that Kano, as Nigeria’s most populous state continues to grapple with security concerns, including gang rivalry and phone snatching, which have prompted his administration to strengthen local security structures.

“Recently, Kano has garnered media attention due to incursions by bandits into the Tsanyawa, Shanono, and Ghari local government areas from neighbouring Katsina state,” he said.

“In response, my administration has taken a swift and decisive action against this security threat.

“We continue to collaborate closely with our security agencies, including the military, police, DSS, and all components of our national security framework, to prevent acts of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and related offenses.”

The governor said his administration has also established and equipped a neighbourhood watch corps to support existing security agencies and improve grassroots surveillance.

Despite the challenges, he maintained that Kano remains one of the most peaceful states in the country.