The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Northwest University Kano branch has expressed shock and devastation following the brutal murder of Buhari Imam, a lift operator at the university who was fatally stabbed by phone snatchers.
The incident occurred at the victim's residence in Sheka Quarters, Kumbotso Local Government Area of Kano State, during the late hours of Thursday, June 12, 2025.
A Promising Life Cut Short
SSANU described the deceased as "a young, energetic, hardworking and promising Engineer" who worked in the Directorate of Maintenance Services. Imam had recently obtained a Higher National Diploma in Mechanical Engineering from Kano State Polytechnic as part of his career development efforts.
According to reports, Imam was stabbed in the right side of his stomach, causing severe injuries. Despite the swift intervention of good Samaritans who rushed him to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), he succumbed to his wounds.
Rising Phone Snatching Menace in Kano
In a statement signed by Comrade Muhammad Jaji, Chairman of SSANU Northwest University Kano Branch, the association condemned "in totality, the act and atrocities of phone robbers and their cohorts that led to the brutal killing" of their colleague.
The union noted with concern that the incident confirms widespread speculation that "Kano State has now turned into a hub of phone snatchers." They highlighted that there are specific locations in the ancient city where residents cannot freely use their phones in public without fear of being attacked.
"The risk of being attacked, wounded or even killed for a mobile device has become increasingly a daily affair. Even passengers in tricycles are not left out; phone snatchers operate brazenly in broad daylight, targeting unsuspecting citizens who are simply trying to make a call. This is not just mere theft—it is a full-blown security breach that must be reverted before it is too late."
Call for Immediate Action
SSANU has called on the Kano State Government, Commissioner of Police, Director of DSS, and all other relevant agencies to urgently identify, arrest, and prosecute the killers of Buhari Imam.
The association emphasized that it "will not, for once, relent its call on this matter, until the perpetrators of these dastardly and barbaric acts are brought to book."
This incident adds to growing concerns about security in Kano, particularly related to phone snatching, which has reportedly become increasingly common in various parts of the city.
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