Kano Family Killing: VC Othman Warns Nigerian Youth Crisis Is Becoming a “Society-Consuming Monster”

The Vice Chancellor of Federal University, Dutsin-Ma, Prof. M. Khalid Othman, has raised a powerful alarm over the escalating wave of youth-driven violence and criminality across Nigeria, warning that the nation is “losing control of the situation” as social values continue to crumble.

In a strongly worded commentary titled “Nigerian Youths and Collective Responsibilities”, Prof. Othman lamented that what begins as youthful exuberance is rapidly evolving into delinquency and, ultimately, full-blown violent crime—now a disturbing national pattern from “Bama to Badagary.”

According to him, Nigeria is witnessing a dangerous rise in illicit drug use, gang activities, and barbaric acts of violence predominantly perpetrated by young people. These incidents, he warned, are creating a future that looks “bleak and frightening,” unless urgent collective action is taken.

Kano’s Disturbing Trend of Youth Violence

Prof. Othman referenced the recent analysis by public commentator Abdu Abdullahi, who documented a series of gruesome crimes in Kano State over the past five years. Once celebrated as a centre of Islamic scholarship, modern education, culture, and progressive politics, Kano, he noted, is now battling recurring episodes of “human carnage” mostly blamed on youth offenders.

Abdullahi’s findings paint a tragic picture of innocent residents brutally killed by “heartless elements,” leading to a shift in public consciousness—from responsibility to “outrageous rascality.”

Nationwide Examples Reflect a Deepening Crisis

The Vice Chancellor stressed that Kano is not an isolated case. He recalled past incidents he had highlighted in earlier writings, including:

• The death of 12-year-old Sylvester Oromoni in Lagos.
• The shocking murder of 8-year-old Asma’u Shuaibu Wa’alamu in Zaria.
• The arrest of 39-year-old housewife, Maryam Abubakar, also in Zaria, who openly confessed to running errands and sexual dealings with bandits, even introducing her own teenage daughters to criminals for money.

In her chilling confession, Maryam admitted:
“Bandits paid me between N30,000 and N50,000 for a round of sex… I knew they were into kidnapping, banditry, and armed robbery, but I decided to date one of them because they gave me lots of money.”
She further revealed how she facilitated other girls—earning ₦50,000 per night—and encouraged her 15- and 17-year-old daughters to do the same.

Prof. Othman described the case as “pathetic, tragic, and unbefitting of any mother,” especially within a conservative society.

A Call for Collective Responsibility

The don emphasised that Nigeria is fast approaching a dangerous tipping point. The growing boldness of young criminals, he said, signals systemic failures from homes, schools, religious leaders, and the government.

He urged parents, teachers, security agencies, policymakers, religious scholars, and community leaders to unite in confronting the crisis before it grows into a “society-consuming monster.”

Failing to act now, Prof. Othman warned, will allow crime, drug abuse, and moral decay to entrench themselves so deeply that reversing the damage may become nearly impossible.