A police officer attached to the Hotoro Division in Kano State, identified as Sani S.O., has been killed during a clash between rival thugs, just weeks before his retirement.

According to a Daily Trust report, the incident occurred when the officer and his colleagues were deployed to disperse fighting groups in the area.

A source close to the deceased told Daily Trust that the officer was allegedly shot by one of the hoodlums wielding a dane gun during the operation.

“He was working at the Hotoro Division and was deployed with others to disperse the thugs. Unknown to him, some of them had a dane gun, which they used to shoot him.

“He was rushed to the hospital, where he was confirmed dead,” the source said.

The source described the late officer, who had served in the Nigeria Police Force for over 30 years, as a respected member of his community.

“He was a good person who contributed immensely to society, especially within his immediate environment. He was just a few weeks away from retirement before he was killed,” the source added.

Efforts to obtain official confirmation from the police proved unsuccessful, as the Kano State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, did not respond to calls and text messages as of the time of filing this report.

Kano State has witnessed a resurgence of thuggery-related violence in recent weeks, with clashes reported in several parts of the metropolis ahead of political activities linked to the 2027 general elections.

Areas recently affected include Fagge, Abattoir Market, Koki, Kurnar Asabe, Hotoro and Gyadi-Gyadi, among others.