The Kano State Police Command has wrapped up a three-day Explosive Ordinance Risk Awareness and Sensitization Campaign designed to protect scrap dealers, scavengers, and the wider public from the dangers of unexploded devices.
The campaign, which held between September 9 and 11, 2025, was organized in partnership with the National Association of Scraps and Waste Dealers Employers of Nigeria, Kano Chapter. It took place across three major locations where scrap trading and waste recycling activities are common.
The sensitization drive kicked off at Tashar Yankaba in Nassarawa Local Government Area, moved to Kasuwar Kwanar Ungogo in Ungogo LGA, and concluded at Kofar Waika in Gwale LGA. Each location attracted large turnouts of scrap dealers, scavengers, and community members eager to learn more about safety.
Heading the campaign was CSP Cyprian Dariya, Base Commander of the Explosive Ordinance Disposal–Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (EOD-CBRN) unit in Kano. He represented the Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, PhD.
Addressing participants, CSP Dariya explained that scavengers and scrap dealers often unknowingly handle items that may contain explosives, which can be deadly if mishandled. He warned that ignorance of these dangers could result in avoidable tragedy.
He provided four simple but vital safety steps for anyone who comes across a suspicious object: do not move further, step back, do not touch, and call Police EOD-CBRN Operatives immediately.
“These steps may look simple, but they can be the difference between life and death,” Dariya said, stressing that the Command is fully equipped to respond to such emergencies once alerted.
Participants were also taken through practical demonstrations on how to identify explosive devices hidden in ordinary-looking objects. This interactive session allowed scrap dealers to ask questions and share personal experiences of items they had once found in their daily activities.
The National Association of Scraps and Waste Dealers Employers of Nigeria, Kano Chapter, expressed delight at the campaign. Its Vice Chairman, Alhaji Salisu Haruna Abubakar, praised the police for recognizing the risks scrap dealers face and for taking the initiative to educate them.
He noted that many of the dealers had previously handled suspicious items without realizing the potential danger. “This campaign has opened our eyes, and we are now better prepared to protect ourselves and our communities,” he said.
Alhaji Abubakar further pledged the association’s commitment to collaborate with the police in sustaining the lessons learned and ensuring that members remain vigilant in their operations.
In his goodwill message, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, PhD, reaffirmed the Command’s determination to safeguard lives and property in Kano. He said preventive campaigns such as this are critical to building safer communities.
He urged the public not to ignore any suspicious items but to immediately contact the police for proper handling. “Public safety is our top priority, and with the support of residents, we can prevent tragic incidents before they occur,” CP Bakori emphasized.
The Command provided emergency hotlines for immediate reporting of suspicious devices. Residents are encouraged to call 07033025889, 08035169033, or 08166385447 whenever they encounter suspected explosives.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, ANIPR, MNISMA, signed off the statement, assuring residents that the Command remains proactive in tackling threats through awareness, vigilance, and swift response.
