- Police in Kano have arrested two notorious thugs, “Linga” and “Guchi,” for using TikTok and Facebook to post videos of themselves brandishing weapons and glorifying violence, with the intent to incite communal clashes
- The State Commissioner of Police issued a stern warning that anyone glorifying thuggery on social media will be prosecuted, while also urging parents and leaders to monitor youth online activity
- Parents welcomed the arrests but expressed deep concern over the corrosive influence of such content, calling it a “poison” that glamorizes crime and makes parenting harder
The Kano State Police Command has announced the arrest of two infamous thugs, Muhammad Ismail, alias “Linga,” and Sani Abdussalam, alias “Guchi,” for using social media platforms to instigate violence and glorify thuggery and criminal activities.
The suspects, known to operate from the Dala local government area, were apprehended following intelligence reports of their online activities.
Police give reasons for arrest
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, the duo regularly posted videos on TikTok and Facebook brandishing swords and other dangerous weapons.
Their content, police say, was designed to incite communal clashes and celebrate a culture of thuggery.
“The two young men have been using social media… appearing wielding swords and other dangerous weapons that glorify thuggery activities and instigate violence,” SP Kiyawa stated.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, issued a stern warning, reiterating the command’s zero-tolerance policy towards such acts.
“The police command will not tolerate any act of thuggery or glorifying it through videos and social media. Any person found guilty of that will be prosecuted,” CP Bakori declared.
The police also urged continued cooperation from the public, specifically calling on parents and community leaders to vigilantly monitor their children’s online engagements and associations.
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Parents decry corrupting influence on youth
The arrest has sparked significant conversation among parents in Kano, many of whom have expressed deep concern over the corrosive impact of such “gangster” content on the youth.
Hajia Amina Ummi Bello described the videos as a “poison” for young minds.
“These videos make violence look like a badge of honor. My youngest son once tried to imitate a dance from one of these clips where some youths were holding knives. I was terrified.”
“It glamorizes a life that leads only to prison or the grave. We fight hard to teach our children good morals, and then they see this nonsense on their phones, that will make our job even harder,” she explained.
Another parent, Malam Tijjani Usman, blamed the issue on a lack of positive role models and economic opportunities.
“While these boys are wrong, we must ask why this content gets views. Some idle young men see this as a way to gain fame and respect, or even monetization bonuses without realizing it destroys society.”
“It promotes a culture of fear and lawlessness instead of hard work and integrity,” he added.
The parents who spoke to Legit.ng correspondent in Kano welcomed the police action but emphasized that enforcement alone is not enough.
They however called for a multi-faceted approach involving schools, religious leaders, and community initiatives to provide positive alternatives and digital literacy, teaching children to critically assess the content they consume online.
