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

According to sources, the officer was part of a police team deployed to restore order and disperse fighting groups when he was allegedly shot by one of the suspected thugs using a locally made dane gun.

A source close to the deceased disclosed that the attack occurred while officers were attempting to contain the violence.

“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,” the source said.

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

The death of the officer has sparked grief among colleagues, family members and residents who described him as a committed officer and respected community member.

According to the source, the late officer had spent over three decades in the Nigeria Police Force and was approaching retirement after years of service.

“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.

As of the time of filing this report, the Kano State Police Command had not officially commented on the incident. Efforts to obtain a reaction from the state police spokesperson, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, were unsuccessful, as calls and text messages reportedly went unanswered.

The incident comes amid growing concerns over renewed cases of thuggery and violent street clashes in Kano State.

In recent weeks, several parts of the city have reportedly witnessed rising clashes linked to rival youth groups, including areas such as Fagge, Abattoir Market, Koki, Kurnar Asabe, Hotoro and Gyadi-Gyadi.

The resurgence of violence in Kano has raised security concerns among residents, particularly as political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections gradually begin to gather momentum.

Observers have called for stronger security measures and community-based interventions to address the growing threat of urban violence and prevent further loss of lives.