No arrests weeks after killing of Kano Police Officer DSP Sani Isah, RULAAC raises alarm

Stanley Ihedigbo

Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has called for urgent and transparent action over the killing of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Sani Isah, who was shot dead in Kano State while attempting to disperse a violent clash involving rival thugs.

DSP Sani Isah, the Divisional Police Officer of Hotoro Division in Kano State, was reportedly killed on May 20, 2026, during an operation aimed at restoring order.

According to accounts, the officer was struck by a gunshot from a dane gun wielded by one of the attackers during the confrontation.

He was immediately rushed to a medical facility but was later confirmed dead—just about three weeks before his scheduled retirement after more than 30 years of service in the Nigeria Police Force.

The late DSP Isah’s death has drawn attention not only to the risks faced by security personnel in volatile environments but also to the growing threat posed by armed thuggery in parts of Kano State.

For colleagues and family members, the tragedy is particularly painful given how close he was to retirement—a milestone that would have marked the end of a long career in public service.

Instead, his final moments were spent responding to a breakdown of law and order, a duty he reportedly carried out until his last breath.

In a strongly worded statement, signed by RULAAC’s Executive Director, Com. Okechukwu Nwanguma expressed concern over what they described as the “apparent lack of urgency and transparency” surrounding the investigation into the killing.

The organisation noted that, days after the incident, there had been no widely publicized arrests, no official briefing on investigative progress, and no clear assurances from authorities that those responsible would be brought to justice.

According to the group, this silence risks reinforcing public perception of selective accountability in Nigeria’s justice system.

It warned that justice must not depend on public attention or viral outrage, stressing that every violent death deserves equal institutional response regardless of media visibility.

RULAAC urged the Inspector-General of Police and the Kano State Police Command to take urgent steps to address the case.

The group specifically demanded, a public update on the investigation into DSP Isah’s killing, prompt arrest and prosecution of all individuals involved in the attack, adequate welfare and compensation support for the bereaved family and stronger measures to curb violent thuggery and illegal arms circulation in Kano State.

The organisation emphasized that failure to act decisively would embolden criminal groups and further weaken public confidence in security institutions.

Security analysts have long warned that rising incidents of armed clashes between rival groups in northern urban centers are becoming increasingly difficult to control, particularly where illegal weapons such as dane guns and other improvised firearms remain in circulation.

The killing of a senior police officer while on active duty, observers say, highlights both the dangers faced by law enforcement officers and the urgent need for improved intelligence-driven policing.

RULAAC stressed that the handling of DSP Isah’s case will serve as a test of institutional commitment to justice and accountability.

It argued that consistent enforcement of the law, regardless of the victim’s status or the public attention a case receives, is essential to rebuilding trust between citizens and the state.

The organisation reiterated that justice must be “consistent, impartial, and independent of media virality or political convenience.”

As investigations continue, the killing of DSP Sani Isah remains a stark reminder of the risks faced by security operatives and the persistent challenge of violent crime in parts of Nigeria.

For his family, colleagues, and rights advocates, the demand is clear: justice must not only be promised—it must be seen to be done.