Police Arrest Two Famous TikTok Influencers, Give Reasons
- 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.
Source: Original
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.
Source: Facebook
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.
Man arrested in Kano for lewd act
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that a 24-year-old man, Shamsu Yakubu, was arrested by Kano Hisbah after a viral video showed him engaging in an obscene act with a she-goat.
The suspect claimed the act was staged to gain social media attention, though he denied actual contact with the animal.
Hisbah officials condemned the act and ordered mental and drug evaluations, warning against eroding Islamic and moral values for online fame.
Source: Legit.ng
Ibrahim Sofiyullaha (Editorial Assistant) Ibrahim Sofiyullaha is a graduate of First Technical University, Ibadan. He was the founder and pioneer Editor-in-Chief of a fast-rising campus journalism outfit at his university. Ibrahim is a coauthor of the book Julie, or Sylvia, written in collaboration with two prominent Western authors. He was ranked as the 9th best young writer in Africa by the International Sports Press Association. Ibrahim has contributed insightful articles for major platforms, including Sportskeeda in the UK and Motherly in the United States. Email: ibrahim.sofiyullaha@corp.legit.ng
Usman Bello Balarabe (Kano Correspondent) Kano's regional correspondent, Usman Bello Balarabe is a journalist, media strategist, and university lecturer in the state. He worked as an investigative journalist with Daily Trust Newspaper Nigeria. His career is passionately geared towards stimulating social justice, exposing corruption, ensuring good governance and accountability. In his over 7 years of journalism practice, he has authored investigations and numerous special and beat reports at the intersection of environment, health, education, agriculture, public spending, security, and politics.
