2027 Polls: Kano CP Warns Against Hate Speech, Fake News

The Kano State Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Bakori, has warned that anyone found promoting hate speech or spreading fake news in the state will be made to face the full weight of the law, as security agencies and stakeholders stepped up measures to sustain peace ahead of the 2027 general election.

CP Bakori gave the warning at the Kano Youth Peace Summit 2.0, organised by the Kano State Police Command in collaboration with the Youth Society for the Prevention of Infectious Diseases and Social Vices (YOSPIS) and the Aminu Magashi Garba Foundation (AMGF), under the auspices of the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV).

The police commissioner expressed concern over the rising spread of misinformation, disinformation and hate speech across social and conventional media platforms, noting that such narratives posed a serious threat to Kano’s long-standing culture of peaceful coexistence.

According to him, unchecked hate speech and fake news could ignite violence, undermine social harmony and stall socio-economic development in the state, particularly as political activities begin to intensify ahead of the next general election.

“We will not allow a few individuals to destabilise the peace of our beloved state. Whoever promotes hate speech or publishes fake news will face the full weight of the law,” CP Bakori said.

He urged journalists, social media influencers, community leaders and youths to work closely with the police in promoting peace, unity and responsible communication, stressing that security remains a collective responsibility.

Bakori reaffirmed the command’s commitment to maintaining law and order, adding that proactive engagement, intelligence-led policing and community partnership would be strengthened to forestall any threat to public peace.

Also speaking, chairman of the Aminu Magashi Garba Foundation, Aminu Magashi, described the summit as timely, noting that pre-election periods are often characterised by heightened tension, misinformation and divisive rhetoric.

He said the foundation, in partnership with YOSPIS and the police, would intensify engagements over the next 12 months to combat fake news and hate speech through sustained advocacy and capacity building.

Magashi disclosed plans to organise training programmes for political party spokespersons, youth peer educators and media practitioners, emphasising the need to promote factual reporting while discouraging inflammatory narratives. He also pledged continued support to enhance communication and intelligence sharing with the police.

In her remarks, the Special Adviser to the Kano State Governor on Community Policing, Ambassador Maimuna Umar, stressed that effective security requires strong synergy among security agencies, communities, youths and women.

She commended Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for his support to security initiatives and urged youths to use social media responsibly.

Similarly, YOSPIS Executive Director, Zainab Nasir Ahmed, identified fake news and hate speech as major threats to public order, calling on youths and media professionals to uphold ethical standards, verify information before sharing and reject divisive language.